“Coming to a Catholic school made me a better Muslim.” That’s what several Sacred Heart Schools Chicago students have told Jackie Beale-DelVecchio, the school’s middle school religion teacher. And it’s no accident.
“They also had extensive religious education at the Ismaili center, which was their place of worship,” she explains. “And they saw those same values reinforced and reflected at Sacred Heart.”
It’s a poignant example of how this pre-K-8 school in Chicago balances its Catholic foundation with an inclusive approach. In fact, only about half of its 550 students are Catholic. The rest are a mix of Protestant, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist — or have no religious affiliation.
“Students discover amazing things about people who are different from them,” Beale-DelVecchio says, “and how, at the end of the day, we have so many similarities.”
In the process, they also learn more about the school’s guiding principles of faith, intellect, social awareness, community and personal growth.
1. Religious education broadens perspectives
Sacred Heart’s religious education program isn’t just about Catholicism. It’s about understanding faith as a whole. And it’s essential since, again, 50% of the school’s students aren’t Catholic.
“Religion is often so overgeneralized,” Beale-DelVecchio says. “That’s where negative stereotypes can get overblown.” To reverse this, teachers use:
- A broad approach: Seventh graders spend an entire year studying five world religions — Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Younger students encounter different faiths through chapels, traditions and classroom discussions.
- A focus on learning, not belief: Religion isn’t taught as doctrine. “We want students to be able to see how religion is culturally embedded,” Beale-DelVecchio explains. “We can’t get away from its historical impact on our society, government, etc.”
- Exploring diversity within faiths: Lessons explore internal religious diversity, such as differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims or varying practices among Christians.
- Seeing religious culture firsthand: Students visit local houses of worship, like the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago and St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church.
- Language that includes everyone: And, instead of assuming one shared belief, teachers frame lessons with phrases like “Catholics believe this” or “Christians believe this.” This acknowledges the diversity in the classroom.
2. Faith-based learning builds academic skills
At Sacred Heart, religious studies also help students sharpen critical thinking, research and civil discourse skills that prepare them for high school and beyond.
- Encouraging critical thinking: Religious texts can help spark bigger questions, Beale-DelVecchio says. In a unit on Samson — a biblical warrior and judge who sometimes misused his power — students considered: “Can someone still be a hero if they do bad things?” She adds, “More than debate, the goal is dialogue and sharing different opinions.”
- Connecting faith to real-world issues: Catholic teachings intersect with historic events, too, like the Industrial Revolution. “The pope at the time wrote an open letter calling for fair wages, safe conditions and eight-hour work days,” Beale-DelVecchio explains.
- Preparing for high school theology: Most Sacred Heart grads also attend Catholic high schools, she says, where theology is part of the curriculum. “They need to know how to study religion and be prepared for that experience.”
3. Service and ethics prepare students for life
As students move toward high school, college and adulthood, Beale-DelVecchio notes, Sacred Heart helps them develop ethical reasoning, empathy and a commitment to service. These also take root in religion.
- Living faith through service: Volunteering isn’t just encouraged; it’s a reflection of the school’s values. “We’re helping students be empathetic and aware of others, and to see themselves as able to help others,” Beale-DelVecchio says.
- Starting young: These lessons happen at all stages. Preschoolers assemble birthday boxes for families in need, for instance. Fifth graders make blankets for children with long-term illnesses as part of the Make-A-Wish program.
- Service in action: Seventh and eighth graders participate in Justice Tuesdays, volunteering at local nonprofits like food pantries. “They’re filling bags with apples and oranges,” Beale-DelVecchio says. “They’re also interacting respectfully and compassionately with our neighbors coming in to get those resources.”
- Creating lifelong habits: “We’re not just telling students to be good people. We’re giving them real ways to live that out,” Beale-DelVecchio says. “You show up, you say, ‘How can I help?’ And you can help.”
This content is sponsored by Sacred Heart Schools Chicago, an independent Catholic pre-K-8 school that welcomes all faiths and offers single-gender education for girls and boys on one co-educational campus. Learn more at the Sacred Heart Schools Chicago website.
