This article is based on keynotes I offered at Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools in Sioux Falls for an in-service. If you are a teacher, principal, or superintendent: maybe this article is gift for you and your colleagues, to lean into the God-given vocation of teaching. We have reflection and discussion questions ready to go for you, right here. Blessings on your new school year!–Susan Windley-Daoust
The Teacher’s Influence: More Than We Realize
Every Catholic teacher knows that you do far more than deliver lesson plans. The quiet encouragement—“You come alive when you write” or “I see how you are a good friend”—can set a student on a path for life. The attentive concern—“Are you okay?”—can break through a wall of loneliness. The fact that you noticed, listened, or spoke truth into a child’s life can change everything.
Most of us can name a teacher who made an outsized impact on our own lives. Sometimes, it was through what they taught, but more often, it was how they saw us—truly saw us—and treated us with dignity. In Catholic schools, this influence is magnified: our mission is not only academic formation, but the shaping of young people for a life of faith, hope, and love. And when better to lean into the vocation of the teacher than during the Jubilee Year of Hope?
And yet, we are serving a generation facing challenges that are unlike any in living memory.
The Kids Are Good, But Not Alright
Many of today’s students are wading through what can only be described as a cultural tsunami:
- Religious disconnection – Nearly 30% of U.S. adults now identify as religiously unaffiliated, and the trend is accelerating among younger generations.
- Mental health crises – Forty-two percent of Gen Z report having received a diagnosis for a mental health condition.
- Loneliness – Half of young people describe themselves as lonely, with fewer deep relationships than ever before.
- Digital overwhelm – The average teen spends three hours or more daily on screens for entertainment, often replacing in-person interaction and spiritual engagement.
These wounds and struggles do not remain at home; they walk into our classrooms every morning. Catholic schools are uniquely positioned to respond—not only by educating minds but by healing hearts.
Missionary Discipleship in the Classroom
So, how do we respond? The Church calls us not simply to teach about Jesus but to model and invite others into a living relationship with Him. Pope Francis put it plainly in The Joy of the Gospel: “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ… No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her.”
Missionary discipleship is rooted in three movements:
- Encounter – meeting Jesus Christ personally and experiencing His love.
- Grow – deepening that relationship through prayer, sacrament, and virtue.
- Invite – helping others encounter and grow in Him as well.
For teachers, missionary discipleship means recognizing that the students in front of you are there for a reason. You may be the only person in their lives who prays for them by name—or even the only one who speaks the name of Jesus with warmth and reverence.
The First Move: Intercessory Prayer
If the idea of “missionary discipleship” feels overwhelming, start here: pray for your students.
Intercessory prayer is not about performing or preaching. It is quiet, hidden work. Imagine yourself as an older sibling bringing a younger brother or sister before the Father, asking Him to give that child exactly the grace he or she needs.
This can be as simple as:
- Hearing a student’s struggle and lifting it silently to God.
- Choosing one or two students you know are in need to pray for daily.
- Offering your morning commute for the intentions of your students.
Prayer is the foundation of authentic influence. Without it, our efforts risk being just well-intentioned human projects. With it, God multiplies our loaves and fishes.
Not a Parent, Not a Peer—An Older Brother or Sister
In Catholic tradition, parents are the primary educators of their children in faith. But many students arrive without strong faith formation at home. You are not called to replace their parents, nor should you try to be “just a friend.” Instead, think of yourself as an older sibling in the family of God.
Older siblings:
- Have the authority of experience, and wider knowledge of the world.
- Invite younger siblings to “come and see.”
- Will set boundaries for success while offering encouragement.
- Model what life can look like when rooted in Christ.
This is a role that communicates both care and challenge—two elements essential for discipleship.
If you don’t feel ready to walk in “older sibling” relationship with someone else, seek an “older sibling” for yourself—perhaps your pastor, school chaplain, or a fellow teacher who can strengthen your own walk with Christ.
The Power of Christ-Centered Joy
St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle, patron of teachers, believed his greatest work was not the curriculum he wrote, but the formation of teachers themselves. Why? Because the joy and virtue of a teacher ripple outward, shaping the hearts of countless students.
Joy is not naïve cheerfulness. It is a deep gladness in the Lord that can coexist with life’s difficulties. It’s cultivated through prayer, sacrament, gratitude, and the intentional practice of virtues—especially generosity, loving service, integrity, and encouragement.
Students notice more than we think. They may not get the “lesson” but they get the “teacher.” When we live joyfully and with integrity, we become living witnesses of hope.
Creating a Culture of Excellence in Discipleship
One teacher’s influence matters; a school culture multiplies it. What could a group of teachers do?
Set the tone. Teachers collectively model what discipleship looks like—through visible prayer, compassionate interaction, and open acknowledgment of God’s presence.
Use the language. In a secular culture, words like Jesus, mercy, reconciliation, worship are becoming rare. Research suggests that when about 30% of a community uses a certain language regularly, it becomes normalized. Speak faith naturally and confidently in your classrooms.
Honor discipleship when you see it. Even if you don’t give formal awards, acknowledge students who live their faith—whether quietly or publicly. Small affirmations can reinforce a lifetime habit.
Culture is made up of shared values and relationships. As “older siblings,” we take responsibility for guiding younger ones—but remember: the true Oldest Brother is Jesus Christ. We are all “middle children” in God’s family, and our work points beyond ourselves to Him.
When relationships in a school reflect Christ’s love—respectful, encouraging, challenging toward the good—students encounter the Gospel not only in religion class but in every hallway and interaction.
The Call to Be Bearers of Hope
In the end, Catholic teachers are called to be bearers of hope.
Hope is not optimism; it is a theological virtue, anchored in the certainty that God is faithful to His promises. Hope gives students courage to believe they are loved, that their lives have meaning, and that the future is worth pursuing.
In a world where so many young people are anxious, disconnected, and searching for belonging, a Catholic teacher who lives as a hopeful, prayerful, joy-filled disciple is a powerful sign of God’s presence.
Your influence may not always be visible. Seeds planted may take years to sprout. But every day you walk into the classroom, you carry with you the potential to change a life—not just for this year, but for the rest of time.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)
If you would like discussion questions, we have them at this link. And if you would like Susan to speak to your school teachers about vocation, contact The Mark 5:19 Project.
