Institute for Catholic Liberal Education

09/02/2026

ICLE faculty member Monica Clarke shares a beautiful personal reflection on reading St. Augustine’s Confessions fifteen years apart—first as an undergraduate student, and later through the eyes of a teacher.

"The more we can see that the great works of the tradition will be teaching our students in new ways for the rest of their lives, that the work of education is never “done,” the more free we are simply to delight in the present and let God work in His own time..."

Let Monica's insights offer reassurance to Catholic educators this September: you are not just delivering information. You are planting seeds of Truth, beauty, and goodness that God will continue to harvest in your students' hearts for decades to come.

📚 Read the full reflection by Monica Clarke:

Last week the Church celebrated the feast of St. Augustine, the great convert and doctor of the Church. I first read his Confessions in my undergraduate studies as part of a philosophy course I was taking. My first read of the text, then, was with the eyes of a student,…

08/31/2026

"The study of truth requires a considerable effort—which is why few are willing to undertake it out of love, even though God has implanted in human souls a natural desire for it." — St. Thomas Aquinas 🕊️

The wait is over—tomorrow morning, we welcome back our 7th through 12th-grade cohort as we kick off a brand new academic year at Saint Francis Classical Catholic Academy! 📚✨

Our upper-grade students have an extraordinary week lined up—full of community breakfasts together, faculty panel discussions on our academic mission, leadership talks with Dr. Brake on the goals of Catholic classical education, a summer reading trivia challenge, planning for student government sponsored activities, and an exciting white-water rafting adventure to end the week! 🛶 🌊

We are praying for our students and faculty as they step into this year ready to pursue holiness through learning of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty with heart, mind, and soul. Welcome back, upper grade classmates!

St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us! ✝️

P.S. Image featured: "Saint Thomas Aquinas, Fountain of Wisdom." This classical artwork depicts St. Thomas holding sacred scripture while scholars, teachers, and students gather around him, seeking divine and human wisdom.


Institute for Catholic Liberal Education

08/28/2026

"Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace." — St. Augustine, Confessions

Today, on the Feast of St. Augustine, we reflect on what is arguably one of the most exquisite paragraphs in all of literature.

In this passage from Confessions, Augustine captures the heart of Catholic liberal education: the dramatic, personal pursuit of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.

As educators, we do not merely pass on information. We cultivate the soul's capacity to hear the call that "breaks through deafness" and see the light that "dispels blindness." We introduce students to the "Beauty ever ancient, ever new" so that they, too, may hunger and thirst for the peace that only God provides.

St. Augustine, pray for our schools, our teachers, and our students. 🙏

08/28/2026

For Catholic educators, preparing a classroom is more than organizing materials or decorating walls. It is an opportunity to create an environment where students encounter truth, goodness, beauty, and Christ.

The Catholic classroom should reflect the Church’s vision of education: the formation of the whole person—mind, heart, imagination, and soul.
The question for teachers is not only, “What should my classroom look like?” but also, “What kind of person is this environment helping my students become?”

So, as the pages of your summer calendar drift by and thoughts of the school year-to-come slowly creep in, let us consider how we can begin to prepare a Catholic classroom.

Read more from ICLE Faculty Member, Marie Kelly here:

For Catholic educators, preparing a classroom is more than organizing materials or decorating walls. It is an opportunity to create an environment where students encounter truth, goodness, beauty, and Christ. The Catholic classroom should reflect the Church’s vision of education: the formation of ...

08/21/2026

What a blessed time with Our Lady of Lourdes in Denver, CO. Jake Tawney, ICLE's Director of Curriculum and Academic Resources, led a workshop on the Quadrivium with a wonderful faculty. God bless you in the new school year.

08/20/2026

Teachers at Aberdeen Roncalli in Aberdeen, SD kicked off their school year with a workshop full of fellowship. Singing, dancing, shared meals, and a morning of mimetic lesson demonstrations all highlighted the deep community at the heart of this school.

08/19/2026

Teachers of the Western Regional Cohort of our Catholic Educator Formation and Credential (CEFC) program gathered for their first in person session at the gorgeous San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, CA, August 3-7.

We prayed and studied together in this contemplative place, and even were able to discuss Simone Weil's "Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies with a View to the Love of God" looking out over the beautiful valley. During our week, teachers began their initial studies of Catholic Liberal Education by a deep examination of the Church's vision for education together the pedagogies associated with it.

Teachers left the week with practical ways in which they can begin living this in their classrooms this fall. One of the participants shared that "being around teachers from different schools but all sharing the same ultimate goal is so validating", and another says that this program "has helped me to desire sanctity for my students".

Teachers begin their fall course work in September and will be back in person together in January for our Trivium and Mimetic workshop. Learn more about ICLE's CEFC here: https://catholicliberaleducation.org/events/catholic-educator-formation-and-credential-program/

08/17/2026

Encountering Wonder in Mitchell, SD! 🌱

We recently wrapped up an inspiring 2-day Quadrivium workshop at St. John Paul II School in Mitchell, South Dakota! Led by ICLE faculty member Christy Karako, this time together allowed educators to dive deeply into the Catholic liberal arts tradition.

As the school prepares to welcome students back next week, their faculty spent two days encountering the wonder of creation through immersive, hands-on math and science activities.

Here is what participating teachers had to say about their formative experience:
✨ “It was a fruitful time diving into the teaching methods God intends for His young learners to learn by. I grew to truly find awe in my vocation as a teacher.”
✨ “It helped me to understand what are the ways the human mind learns and the importance of learning how everything is centered in Christ. Ultimately, education is evangelization.”
✨ “So inspiring. I love all the ways you touched on humanity ('that which is human in our children'). Imago Dei!”
✨ “I feel prepared yet invigorated with some new concepts to enter the coming school year. The coupling of new ideas and clarifications and review of 'old' strategies was effective.”
✨ “The more I learn about classical education, the more I realize that it is the only way I want my children to learn and the only way I want to teach.”
✨ “I am an ELA teacher but this helped me understand reality more, which will help me be a better role model for my kids.”

Thank you to the wonderful community at St. John Paul II School for hosting us so warmly. Please join us in praying for these dedicated educators and their students as they begin a beautiful new academic year!

08/14/2026

At St. Charles Borromeo Academy in Kansas City, MO, faculty members reviewed the principles of liberal arts education while grounding the beginning of the school year in a shared experience and discussion of several pedagogical strategies.

"It is enriching and encouraging to actually engage in and practice liberal arts pedagogy with my peers. I am excited for the new school year and implementing what I learned."

Also in Kansas City, MO, the faculty of St. Gabriel The Archangel Catholic Church & School delighted in an exploration of the four quadrivial arts. Their intellectual hunger and spirit of leisure was evident throughout the workshop — these teachers are amazing models who are intentionally cultivating these qualities in the students that they serve!

"The workshop was eye-opening as to how math relates to everything. The workshop allowed me to sit and work through problems and find the 'why.' "

08/13/2026

We are so grateful for the opportunity to partner with the educators at St. Stephen Catholic School- New Boston, MI!

🌟Our Vice President of Diocesan and School Relations, Danny Flynn, just wrapped up a 2-day Mimetic Instruction workshop with their faculty.

While Danny was flying solo and focused on teaching, he managed to capture a couple of quick snapshots from the weekend, but the true impact of the workshop is best expressed by the teachers themselves:

✨ “This workshop pushed me out of my comfort zone to rearrange my thoughts on this vocation. It gave me some additional ideas to vary my teaching in order to meet my students where they are.”

✨”The workshop gave me the knowledge to present content to my students in various ways to hold their interest. Encouraging and modeling imitation in the classroom can help everyone, including the teacher!”

Thank you, Saint Stephen’s, for your dedication to renewal in Catholic education and for welcoming us into your community.