A hands-on approach to truth, beauty, and goodness
Perspectives from Catholic school students on topics of faith
By Francisco Valdez
The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist at Marin Catholic High School creatively instill in students the three transcendentals of truth, beauty and goodness through an annual project where seniors build replica models of one of six medieval cathedrals. Each cathedral building project includes about eight students drawn from three senior classes.
Dominican Sister Peter Joseph, a theology teacher at Marin Catholic, conceived the project in the fall of 2024 after a conversation with her theology colleagues on ways to increase Catholic identity.
Several teachers drawn from different disciplines serve as project judges. A history teacher evaluates historical accuracy; a math teacher analyzes engineering/architectural details; and a theology teacher with art-history experience judges artistic beauty. Awards are given to student groups based on these categories as well as an overall excellence award. The cathedrals are displayed in the school’s library for the enjoyment of all students.
“One of the most exciting moments was when they looked at the early floor plans and they recognized that the design is in the shape of a cross,” said Sister Peter Joseph. “That’s exactly what I want students to see. It’s a place where the sacrifice of the Mass is offered where we most perfectly worship God and where heaven and earth are meeting in that physical place.”
“The school exists to bring students to Jesus Christ,” said judge and history teacher Dominican Sister Hyacinth Hayward. “This project is absolutely beautiful because it gives students a contact with beauty which has a way of drawing us into a deeper relationship with the Lord.”
The judges said cathedrals are physical representations of our love for God and are designed for worship. Such breathtaking structures represent the essence of what is true, beautiful and good in this world.
Francisco Valdez is a reporter for Catholic San Francisco.