The Educational Philosophy of
St. Gabriel Classical Academy
A Catholic Classical school located at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church
in Colorado Springs, CO.
8755 Scarborough Drive
Colorado Springs, CO
80920
Fides Quaerens Intellectum– Faith Seeking Understanding – St. Augustine
*Used (in part) with permission from St. Jerome Academy, Hyattsville, MD
Building St. Gabriel Classical Academy:
In March 2021, generous benefactors approached Bishop Sheridan asking if they could fund the building of a Catholic school at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church. Bishop agreed and directed them to the pastor, Fr. Kirk Slattery, who responded, “Yes, we have wanted to build a school here for years!”
God as Architect of World
Paris Bible, c. 1220
The Educational Philosophy
of St. Gabriel Classical Academy
PROLOGUE
“Fides Quaerens Intellectum” meaning Faith Seeking Understanding.
- St. Augustine
Every human heart longs to find answers to the fundamental questions of existence:
Who am I?
Where do I come from and why am I here?
How am I to live my life?
Saint Augustine, whose own life and work profoundly engaged these perennial questions, gives classic expression to the Christian response that proposes that there is Truth; creation is the expression of intelligent purpose; and man is a rational being, the highest material creation endowed with inherent dignity, made in the image and likeness of God. Furthermore, man can live a joyful, ordered life because of God’s abundant goodness and mercy.1
Inspired by this life in Christ, St. Gabriel Classical Academy has outlined its educational philosophy in the following pages.2 This philosophy is the vision of education grounded in the Catholic intellectual traditions, the teachings of the Universal Church and her understanding of the human experience.3 We believe that it is our mission to provide students with a foundation of faith by which they are truly made free to seek truth and live joyful, productive lives informed by reason and virtue to help bear witness to the kingdom of God in our day. We believe that the ultimate purpose of a Catholic school is to bring souls to Christ through His Church. As a school, we achieve this purpose when we develop our students’ intellects, and when we provide them with foundational principles rooted in faith, reason, and virtue that they can later employ to live good, fulfilled, and holy lives.
Pastoral Support
The parish pastor plays a direct role in supporting the students, faculty, staff, and parents of St. Gabriel Classical Academy. The pastor is the spiritual guide for all members of the school community, and he will provide regular formation opportunities for all faculty and staff. He will participate in the selection and development of religious curriculum in conjunction with the principal and may provide instruction at times. St. Gabriel Classical Academy believes that the consistent presence of clergy within the school environment is critical for maintaining a strong Catholic identity.
FAITH
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD; and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children. Deut. 6:4-7
In His love and goodness, God created all that is. We acknowledge and believe that God, most significantly in the Incarnation of Christ, divinely revealed Himself to us, that we might know the truth about Him and ourselves. In His divine wisdom, He established the Church as the guardian of the faith whose purpose on earth is to be a herald of truth and the means of salvation for the whole human race. St. Gabriel Classical Academy takes the duty of transmitting the faith very seriously.4 And whereas all education is, in fact, inculturation, the faith-life or culture of the school is designed to guide all students to a deep and lasting relationship with Christ through His Church. We desire to foster a culture of life and faith in the following ways: