In October 2012 John Sullivan published an article in this journal entitled "Catholic Education as Ongoing Translation" (2012, "International Studies in Catholic Education" 4 (2): 200-207). In it, he argued that the tradition of the Church needs to be kept alive by an ongoing process which matches "the logos of the message … and the pathos of the recipients" (203). He referred to the "endlessly unfinished nature of translation" (204) that adapts to contemporary culture and in turn is acted upon by that culture. My research project among head teachers of Catholic secondary schools in one diocese indicates that translating the Catholic tradition for young people is a central challenge for Catholic educators. What emerges from the research is that Catholic head teachers are at a threshold where the tradition of the Church meets the culture of contemporary youth. In the process of translating, Catholic head teachers are inevitably engaged in interpretation, trying to fuse the past and the present in ways which are of necessity both creative and pragmatic, drawing on their own spiritual capital to ensure that the Church maintains its links with young people.