'Students must be witnesses of faith,' says Pope Francis in CEAP congress message
Aside from honing students to become outstanding learners, Pope Francis said Philippine Catholic educators should also hone students as authentic witnesses of faith.

(VATICAN MEDIA VIA CBCP / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The pope said this in his message for this year’s Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) Congress, according to CBCP News.
He said Catholic education must not only teach critical thinking, but also encourages “formation in Christian doctrine and morality."
Doing so, he said, would lead to formation of men and women “who are ready to take society’s heavier responsibilities and to witness to the true faith to the world."
Meanwhile, CEAP President Fr. Elmer Dizon said continued efforts are exerted so that Catholic schools “become catalysts of change."
“This is who we are. This is what God wants us to be,” he said.
Nueva Ecija Bishop Roberto Mallari of the Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education admitted that the educational sector is one of the most challenged today as every school has to come up with learning modalities to address the needs of the students amid the pandemic.
But, he said, CEAP will not "cower in fear but rather will stand firm in being steward not only to the learners but also to other schools."
“CEAP will be here to serve as wind beneath the wind of member schools as they struggle for survival amidst the pandemic,” Bishop Mallari said.
The CEAP Congress, which opened on September 22, is being held virtually. due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Congress will continue until September 25.