History/tradition foundation of John Ireland School

by Sr. Ramona Fallon, principal

John Ireland School, St. Peter

“John Ireland Catholic School is a Christ-centered community of faith and learning rooted in gospel values and academic excellence.” This mission statement is the driving force for the Self Study with which John Ireland School in St. Peter is involved at this time. All curriculum and activities flow from the mission and give credence to the school. The first statement of the Self Study is, “The school will have a mission statement that concisely articulates a shared vision for the school community and establishes an overall commitment to a particular course of action. Like all the Catholic schools in the Diocese of New Ulm, John Ireland School is accredited by Minnesota Nonpublic Schools Accrediting Association (MNSAA).

The mission statement helps set the tone of the curriculum and guides the faculty and school community when making decisions about the educational program. For instance, the mission states that John Ireland is a “community of faith”. Developing the community of faith includes the spiritual life and community services of the students as they carry out the gospel values of love, respect, and justice.

John Ireland School nourishes spiritual life and community service. Students participate in planning and ministering at weekly liturgies and all school prayer services. Each day begins and ends with prayer. Christian faith is integrated with weekly academic subjects and throughout the curriculum students are challenged to grow in their faith, to come to know Jesus and strive to gain a Catholic global perspective. John Ireland students join together to collect gifts for Santa Anonymous, food for the local food shelf, and money for the missions. Students in the 5th and 6th grades “adopt a grandparent” from a local nursing home and visit them monthly.

John Ireland School is a Catholic school with a long Catholic and academic tradition named after one of Minnesota’s distinguished church leaders. With history and tradition as its foundation and its mission as its guide, John Ireland School can continue to prepare students for the future both in church and society. In one U.S. diocese, a sign is posted in each school, “Be it known to all who enter here that Christ is the reason for this school. He is the unseen but ever present teacher in its classrooms. He is the model of its faculty and the inspiration of its students.” Christ is the reason, the center, for John Ireland School.