In the early centuries, Catholic monasteries were the hubs of cultural transformation, and communities were built around them. Today, Dr. Marcus Peter argues that it\u2019s the faithful Catholic schools, colleges, and graduate programs in The Newman Guide that are the new hubs transforming the culture.<\/p>\n
Many Catholic schools and colleges in America have greatly secularized. Catholic school enrollment has declined two-thirds, and many colleges today face closure. But there is good news for faithful Newman Guide institutions, the next era in Catholic education.<\/p>\n
At\u00a0Newman Guide Recommended schools and colleges, the \u201csacramental life and Catholic intellectual tradition form the heart of the community,\u201d says Dr. Peter. These places are \u201cgreat forces of cultural change\u201d and the \u201cway forward\u201d for the Catholic Church in America.<\/p>\n
Dr. Peter, a Catholic biblical theologian, apologist, and preacher, was recently named host of a new international radio show, \u201cAve Maria in the Afternoon,\u201d which is produced by Ave Maria Radio and syndicated through the EWTN Radio Network. His show \u201cexamines culture, Church, and current events through the lens of faith from the heart of the Church\u2014to show how Jesus Christ is Lord over all facets of life.\u201d Dr. Peter also serves as Director of Theology and Flagship Radio and TV Host for Ave Maria Radio.<\/p>\n
Originally from Malaysia, Dr. Peter was an atheist who moved into Pentecostalism and then found his home in the Catholic Church in 2010. Mostly self-taught in theology, Dr. Peter wanted to find an institution where he could deepen his understanding, but he was disappointed overall with what he found.<\/p>\n
\u201cI desperately wanted to go somewhere where fidelity to the Magisterium was upheld,\u201d said Dr. Peter. \u201cIn Asia, fidelity to the Magisterium is a rare thing, especially institutionally.\u201d Even at a Catholic seminary, he was dismayed with the teaching.<\/p>\n
But all that changed when he found Ave Maria University\u2019s graduate program in theology, which is recommended in The Newman Guide.<\/p>\n
Ave Maria University \u201cmade its hallmark stalwart fidelity to Christ\u2019s teaching office,\u201d said Dr. Peter, who completed his master\u2019s degree in systematic theology in 2018. \u201cIt was a life-changing experience, and I\u2019ve been grateful ever since.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Peter\u2019s views on education are impacted by his own time as a student and as a high school teacher. \u201cI have seen how institutions of learning that are not devoutly Catholic, even some that claim to be Catholic, systematically work to break down the seeds and the heritage of the faith that the children bring from their homes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no way that you could pay me to send my children to a university that will seek to attack or destroy their faith in Christ, no matter how established a name the institution has,\u201d said Dr. Peter. \u201cMy bride and I are determined to send our children to Newman Guide universities. We want to give our children a fighting chance for their salvation.\u201d<\/p>\n
High Standards, National Recognition<\/strong><\/p>\n Since 2007, The Newman Guide has recognized faithful Catholic colleges \u2014 and last year it expanded to also recognize elementary and secondary schools and graduate programs. To be recognized, an institution must provide substantial information and adopt policies for academics, student life, personnel, and more to give assurance that students will be formed in the Catholic faith and will be educated in fidelity to Catholic teaching.<\/p>\n The Newman Guide\u2019s high standards are critical. It is the guide<\/em> for Catholic families in a lost and hostile culture.<\/p>\n When Molly Metzgar and her family were planning a move to Virginia, she sought a faithful Catholic school for her children to attend. Molly\u2019s first thought was to check with The Cardinal Newman Society.<\/p>\n It was on our website that she found information about Saint Rita Catholic School in Alexandria, Virginia, which is recommended in The Newman Guide.<\/p>\n \u201cYour Guide has a big influence on Catholic families,\u201d Molly told us, \u201cprobably even bigger than most school leaders recognize.\u201d Among Molly\u2019s Catholic friends, The Newman Guide is known as the guide<\/em> to a faithful Catholic education.<\/p>\n Just recently, The Cardinal Newman Society helped two new colleges, The College of St. Joseph the Worker in Steubenville, Ohio, and the Catholic Institute of Technology in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, earn provisional recommendation in The Newman Guide. Once these institutions have graduated their first students, they will have the opportunity to receive full Newman Guide recognition.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Newman Guide has been instrumental in connecting us with like-minded Catholics who share our mission to establish and grow authentically Catholic colleges and universities,\u201d said Alexis Haughey, co-founder of the Catholic Institute of Technology.<\/p>\n Whether at an independent Catholic school, parochial school returning to its roots, hybrid program, new Catholic college, or innovative Catholic graduate program, leaders are invited to work with the Newman Guide staff of The Cardinal Newman Society to confirm the institution\u2019s strong Catholic identity and connect with Catholic families across the country.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t stress enough that The Cardinal Newman Society should be on the radar screen of every parent,\u201d said Mark Brumley, president of Ignatius Press, in a recent interview. He said The Newman Guide is \u201can invaluable tool serving the mission of the Church and serving so many families.\u201d<\/p>\n From K-12 schools to graduate programs and beyond, The Newman Guide offers a path to a seamless, faithful Catholic education.\u00a0 If you\u2019re looking for a bright light\u2014the new era\u2014in Catholic education, look no further than The Newman Guide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the early centuries, Catholic monasteries were the hubs of cultural transformation, and communities were built around them. Today, Dr. Marcus Peter argues that it\u2019s the faithful Catholic schools, colleges, and graduate programs in The Newman Guide that are the new hubs transforming the culture. Many Catholic schools and colleges […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9894,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,13],"tags":[],"issue":[479,478],"item_type":[],"coauthors":[59],"class_list":["post-9891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-student-formation","issue-commentary-newman-guide","issue-newman-guide"],"yoast_head":"\n