The involvement of the Catholic Church in schools is deeply rooted in Irish educational and political history. Even before the foundation of the national system of education in 1831, Catholic schools dominated the Irish educational landscape. Established mostly by religious orders such as the Christian Brothers and Presentation Sisters, these schools evolved into a system of education that continues to benefit generations of children. Whereas approximately 89% of primary schools are still under Catholic patronage, in the case of second level schools this figure has fallen to approximately 50% and is in steady decline. This paper draws from both the primary- and second-level sectors to identify one intentional approach to faith formation and two more general approaches to supporting Catholic ethos (to include faith formation). The paper is in two parts. Part I outlines the background and impact of Joining the Dots: A Programme of Spiritual Reflection and Renewal for Educators. 3 This programme is an initiative of a trust body responsible for the Catholic ethos of many secondlevel schools in the Republic of Ireland. Part II explores two quite different approaches to supporting and evaluating Catholic ethos more generally.