CHARLOTTE — A transformation has occurred in a main hallway at Charlotte Catholic High School. The once plain white walls across from the school chaplain’s office now showcase engaging displays of art and information to help students grow in their understanding and love of the Catholic faith.
The displays are just one component of a new “Catholic Campus Immersion Initiative,” an effort by the Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Schools Office to highlight aspects of the faith in a highly visual manner at its 20 schools, starting with Charlotte Catholic High School. The displays, which run along the hallway outside the school chaplain’s office, are changed throughout the school year to reflect the liturgical seasons – using art that captures students’ attention and solicits their input, enabling them to participate directly in the initiative.
“The idea is when the students are in the school, going from class to class, the atmosphere reinforces the faith they are being taught in the classroom,” explained Dr. Daniel Garland, the diocese’s director of religious education for schools.
The “Catholic Campus
Immersion Initiative” focuses on three primary areas: permanent structure design, rotational displays, and music and vocal.
The goal, Garland said, is to have a new item each quarter that emphasizes each area of focus. The goal, he said, is to ensure that throughout the school, “rather than a bombardment of disconnected Catholic images, there is a unified theme, whether it be sacred art, murals, etc.”
Suzanne Cona, who teaches Latin and co-chairs the school’s World Language Department, is on the steering committee and coordinates the rotating displays for the initiative. She spearheaded an Advent display featuring the “O Antiphons,” a Christmastide display, and the current display, “A Journey Through Lent.”
“We wanted to create spaces and environments in the school where people can expect to see certain things,” Cona said, “like the Chaplain’s Hallway, where the students know they can find something interesting there to help them grow in their faith. It’s been a wonderful way to evangelize.”
Hunter McNamara, a senior, and his classmates are responding positively to the displays. “I think it’s a great representation of Lent. It gives us a visual roadmap of the journey,” he said.
“The Lent display reminded me that it’s not going to be a smooth journey … there will be bumps along the way,” added senior Laura Anderson.
“I enjoyed making my mark on the school and knowing that my art is impacting the faith journey of others,” said junior Maddie Haines, who created most of the artwork for the Lent display.
Garland noted that the initiative is not going to be relegated to just one hallway. “Eventually we will have sacred art throughout the school, so students are immersed in beauty, because beauty points to God. It’s attractive,” he said. “The more they see beauty, the more they are transcended, and their eyes are drawn up to God.”
Garland said Catholic Schools officials hope to replicate the “Catholic Campus Immersion Initiative” at other schools in the diocese in the future.
— SueAnn Howell, photos provided by Suzanne Cona