In the years I worked as a youth minister, I was always at parishes with schools. Prior to becoming a parent, I thought this was really nice. It was great that kids could be in a place where they attend Mass, are taught religion as a subject and are hopefully given the opportunity to form community with other young Catholics.

After becoming a parent, I had a newfound appreciation for the support our parish school offered my husband and me as the primary catechists of our children. It was more than just “nice.” It was a valuable assist in our pursuit of holiness as individuals and as a family.

However, when we reflect on the importance of Catholic education every January, there is wisdom and truth that we can all take to heart, regardless of whether we are parents or if our parish has a school. In his apostolic exhortation Catechesi Tradendae, St. John Paul II explained that “at the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a person, the person of Jesus of Nazareth.” He explained that the aim of catechesis is to put people “not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only he can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity” (5).

While this message is first about catechesis — the teaching of the Catholic faith — it’s a powerful reminder for each and every individual that the knowledge we pursue at any stage of our lives is an opportunity to either initiate or strengthen our relationship with Christ. From the first years of preschool to the adult education classes we may attend or listen to in a podcast subscription, we must always be cognizant that we aren’t just learning facts to pass a test or have good conversations at parties. All learning can lead us to Christ.

Catholic education can take on so many forms: a traditional brick-and-mortar setting, a homeschool, a parish faith formation program or even the kitchen table after everyone gets home from school and work. What is consistent throughout its many modes is the invitation to knowledge about a subject — but also a relationship with Jesus.

Catholic Schools Week is Jan. 26-Feb. 1 this year. It’s a time when we celebrate our faith’s rich tradition of education, and can be a great reminder to us that we don’t have to be wearing plaid and carrying a backpack to pursue knowledge about Christ and our lifelong relationship with him. January begins a season where often we make resolutions, and resolving to be life-long students will remain a worthwhile pursuit.

Books, podcasts, apps and even old fashioned in-person classes make the quest for knowledge at every age more accessible than ever. Whether individually or as a family, let’s consider adding a new way to learn about the Catholic faith to our routines this year to grow into a stronger relationship with the Lord.

Ascension Press offers the Bible in a Year and the Catechism in a Year podcasts, with a new Rosary in a Year podcast beginning this month. Visit media.ascensionpress.com/podcasts.