On Thursday, September 17, 2026, St. Catherine School in Picture Butte welcomed representatives from the Diocese of Calgary, Holy Spirit Catholic School Division, and guests from Medicine Hat Catholic as part of the new Bishop’s Assurance Pilot program. The initiative aims to explore how faith is not only taught but lived within the daily life of the school community.
The Bishop’s Assurance Pilot is part of Alberta’s broader assurance process, which evaluates the quality of education in schools. This pilot introduces a new element, direct involvement from Church leadership, to better understand how Catholic identity is expressed in classrooms, relationships, and school culture.
This initiative places a stronger emphasis on spiritual development and faith-based experiences, encapsulating the five Marks of Catholic Education:
- Grounded in a Christian Anthropology: Catholic schools recognize that every person is created in God’s image. This understanding affirms the inherent worth of each student and supports their growth as individuals called to live meaningful and purposeful lives.
- Imbued with a Catholic Worldview: School communities encourage students to see the world through the lens of faith, emphasizing service, reflection, and awareness of God’s presence in everyday life. Gospel values help shape attitudes, relationships, and decisions.
- Animated by a Faith-Infused Curriculum: Academic learning is enriched by integrating faith perspectives throughout all subject areas. This approach promotes both intellectual development and spiritual formation within a Christian framework.
- Sustained by Gospel Witness: Educators and staff strive to model Gospel teachings in their words and actions, helping to create an environment where faith is lived out and students are encouraged to grow as disciples.
- Shaped by a Spirituality of Communion: Catholic schools foster a sense of belonging and shared purpose, building strong relationships and encouraging collaboration, compassion, and mutual support within the school community.
During the visit, participants engaged in classroom walk throughs, conversations with students and staff, and gathering prayer with communal reflections.
When reflecting on what success would look like for the Bishop’s Assurance Pilot, Superintendent Ms. Chantel Axani emphasized that the initiative is an opportunity to celebrate the ways Catholic faith is lived throughout the school division.
“Success will be the celebration of all of the wonderful ways our staff and schools are beacons of our Catholic faith. When you visit any of our schools, the Holy Spirit is present. You can feel it. Success would also be that our staff feel proud of all that they do and speak confidently of how they live their faith. This is a celebration, not an assessment!”
Her words highlight the spirit of the pilot: an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the faith already present in school communities.
While the pilot invites school leaders and educators to reflect on Catholic identity, students also offered their own perspectives on what faith means in their school community.
For Savanna, a Grade 4 student, faith is rooted in how we treat others and the strength it provides:
“Faith means love for others and strength.”
Cash, a Grade 2 student, reflected on God's role in creating and bringing people together:
“Faith is the words of God. God made us different, all of us.”
Their reflections offer a glimpse into how faith is understood and experienced by the students at the heart of Catholic education.
The pilot reflects a growing effort within Catholic education to strengthen the connection between faith and learning. By involving the Diocese more directly, schools are being invited to reflect more deeply on how their values are experienced day-to-day not just taught in theory.
It also highlights the unique role Catholic schools play within Alberta’s education system, balancing academic excellence with spiritual formation.
As the Bishop’s Assurance Pilot continues to roll out, schools like St. Catherine are helping shape how faith-based education is understood and supported in the future. The initiative invites both reflection and growth, with a focus on ensuring that Catholic identity remains a living and visible part of the student experience.