In the Dominican Tradition

The Dominican Tradition entails the mission of Christian Education which the Catholic Church has entrusted to the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia from its foundation in 1860. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, also known as the Nashville Dominicans, pursue a distinctive purpose and that is to foster the Gospel spirit of genuine freedom (continually choosing what God has planned in His providence for each of us to do each moment) and charity (living out the Gospel message as Jesus has taught and modeled for us to live our lives - love of God above all things and love of our neighbor as ourselves). Gradually, from the younger grades to the older grades, children are introduced to Catholic Doctrine which permeates every discipline in the curriculum.

In the Dominican Tradition, we prize truth - Veritas - and the development of the intellectual virtues - wisdom, knowledge, understanding, art, and prudence. These virtues perfect our intellect in its grasp of the truth. Wisdom enables the person to relate all things to God as to their first cause. Knowledge enables the person to reason well, that is, to draw correct conclusions on the basis of sound principles. Understanding enables the person to intuitively grasp self-evident truths as the starting point of reasoning. The other two virtues perfect the intellect in regard to making things (art) and to doing things (prudence). This last intellectual virtue, prudence, is also a moral virtue because in perfecting the intellect regarding how best to act, prudence also influences the will so that the person is better able to choose to do what is truly good.

The schools where God has placed the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation strive for superior excellence academically and morally. Children are taught the love of learning and acquire an appreciation for the wonder of God's creation. The Sisters lead the children to excel in scholastic achievement, in understanding the magnificence of the world God created, and in right behavior.
Children learn that God lets them take part in their own salvation - to be with Him in Heaven. This requires a relationship which is manifested in prayer and nourished through the sacraments - especially the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. These sacraments strengthen our relationship with God and sustain us in living in the light of Christ each moment of the day. Thus, the children draw close to God through prayer - lifting their minds and hearts to God - in all they say and do.