An article from https://agustinosrecoletos.com/
At the heart of the EDUCAR Network's educational proposal, the Order's educational centers are not simply teaching centers, but spaces for evangelization. This is what Fr. José Manuel Cambero, an Augustinian Recollect religious, director of the Sacred Heart School in Guadalajara, and coordinator of the network's International Pastoral Team, affirms:
“One conviction we have in the EDUCAR Network is that our schools are centers of evangelization.”
Catholic education is much more than the transmission of academic knowledge; it is an evangelizing task in itself. Fr. José Manuel highlights how Pope Francis reinforces this vision: “Now we have a brilliant ally, Pope Francis. If you listen to anything he says about education, it's impressive. He's making us aware of how our work is authentic evangelization.” In this context, every detail within a Catholic school takes on special significance, from the morning welcome to the reception in the cafeteria or the extracurricular activities. “The gentleman or lady who greets the students when they enter, including those in the cafeteria, the classrooms, any of the teachers, those in extracurricular activities, the management team—everything must speak of God in our schools,” he emphasizes.
The pillars of education in the EDUCAR Network
The educational philosophy of the EDUCAR Network is based on several fundamental pillars. “One of the pillars, logically, must be the Gospel,” emphasizes Fr. José Manuel. Added to this essential element is the spirituality of the Augustinian Recollect Order, which permeates the education of students and the environment of the schools. However, evangelization depends not only on the formation of students, but also on the teaching and administrative staff, as well as the families: “We have to take great care of the school staff, all those who work with us, select them carefully, take good care of them.
Another extremely important pillar is the one that encompasses the families with whom we work. And all of this must be imbued with spirituality, with the Gospel.”
This comprehensive approach requires an essential ingredient: joy. “And all these legs must have a foundation, and that foundation is joy and a touch of humor, which is also very Augustinian,” says Fr. José Manuel, recalling that education should not only transmit values but also generate enthusiasm and hope in the new generations.
The student profile: spirituality, freedom and sense of humor
Students who attend the classrooms of the EDUCAR Network schools not only acquire knowledge, but also develop a profile distinguished by three key characteristics: "Our students graduate with a profile, and in that profile, three things stand out. One, a very deep spirituality. Another is that they are very free people, and the third is that they know how to think with a sense of humor."
These values do not emerge spontaneously, but are the result of collaborative and committed work between teachers, families, and the religious community.
“In our Augustinian family, the mission cannot be just for the friars or the nuns; it belongs to all of us. I understand that today, if our mission isn't shared, how do you carry it out? It seems meaningless,” concludes Fr. José Manuel.
The EDUCAR Network thus demonstrates that Catholic education is not just a matter of curriculum, but of experience and witness, a shared commitment that forms people with hearts open to the world, with faith, freedom, and an ever-present smile.
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