Often what is perhaps fundamentally lacking among Catholics who work in a school is a clear realization of the identity of a Catholic school and the courage to follow all the consequences of its uniqueness. And if there is no trace of Catholic identity in the education, the educator can hardly be called a Catholic educator.
Professionalism is marked by, and raised to, a supernatural Christian vocation.
The life of the Catholic teacher must be marked by the exercise of a personal vocation in the Church, and not simply by the exercise of a profession. It offers ample opportunity for a life filled with enthusiasm. The lay Catholic who works in a Catholic school should be aware of the ideals and specific objectives which constitute the general educational philosophy of the institution, and realize that it is because of this educational philosophy that the Catholic school is the school in which the vocation of a lay Catholic teacher can be lived most freely and most completely. They should try to so identify themselves with these characteristics that their own work will help toward realizing the specific nature of the school. What is being asked of lay Catholics who work in schools is precisely an awareness that what they are doing is exercising a vocation.