| The Catholic Church calls educators at Catholic schools to play an active role in the faith formation of their students. A century ago, the majority of teachers in Catholic schools were vowed religious whereas presently the majority of staff in Catholic schools is lay with consequent challenges and opportunities. Lay educators at Catholic schools need ongoing support and formation to achieve their religious goals.;The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between faith formation opportunities in Catholic secondary schools and teachers' religiosity. Teacher religiosity was measured by their participation in the sacramental life of the Church, worship, belief in the teachings of the Church, knowledge of Catholicism, and the consequences of their faith on their self-perception.;This study utilized a researcher-designed survey. Fifty-four Catholic high schools were selected randomly from the 593 diocesan Catholic high schools in the 13 regions of the NCCB in the United States. Of the potential population, 22.8%, 415 fulltime, lay, Catholic, teachers, completed the survey and were included in the data analysis. Data were collected using an online survey and analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques including percentages, means, standard deviations, and Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficients.;It was found that teachers had an average participation rate of 54.1% in school faith formation opportunities (such as mass, prayer services, meditation, praying the rosary, Bible study, spiritual direction, confession, retreats, discussion of religious topics and volunteering with a charitable organization). There was a weak, positive, linear relationship between teacher participation in school faith formation and teacher religiosity. The majority of teachers surveyed identified the school in which they worked as their primary faith community. Further analysis indicated which programs had the highest rate of voluntary, teacher participation, and which programs had the greatest effect on teacher religiosity.;Serving as a starting point for principals, diocesan offices and the larger Church for the development of a systematic faith formation program for educators, this study demonstrates the important role diocesan Catholic schools occupy in the lives of their teachers and the opportunity for schools to enhance their role in the ongoing faith formation of faculty and student. |
