HEAD of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Jamaica, Archbishop Kenneth Richards, has expressed concern about the absence of religious leaders in Catholic schools across the island, a staple which he says is responsible for the academic excellence and discipline in these schools.
During an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Archbishop Richards revealed that Catholic high schools traditionally led by religious sisters or nuns, and religious brothers, except for Holy Childhood High, no longer have a religious leadership tied to the Catholic Church.
Further, Archbishop Richards said the absence of religious sisters and brothers in Catholic schools has affected the culture, community, values and attitudes of the institutions.
“Part of the discipline that existed in our schools was a spin-off from the Catholic ethos and what the religious sisters, brothers and priests embodied with respect to how they approach engaging the students academically, socially with respect to their development.
Archbishop Richards added: “We are looking at how to use our lay leaders and retired persons — how they can volunteer to become present to help us with presence in our schools to facilitate the kind of engagement that is missing because we do not have the religious sisters again with respect to nurturing those values.
