Noting that character formation within Catholic education has undergone several changes over the last 10 years, this paper examines character education and character formation as they are currently implemented in Catholic elementary and secondary schools. Section 1 of the paper considers the definition of character, and traces the development of character education/formation in Catholic schools over the past decade, reviewing the shift of core values underlying the 1983 Revised Code of Canon Law which directly impacts Catholic education. This section also discusses the impact of core values on leadership styles, and presents two models of leadership that reflect and support the core values described. Section 2 discusses the values for character education/formation that reflect and flow from the core values and are based on the work of Dr. Thomas Lickona and developed within a Catholic philosophy by Dr. Thomas Groome. This section also discusses religious and cultural literacy within a multicultural community, and provides a Scriptural reflection on character education/formation in Catholic schools. Section 3 of the paper describes several approaches to character education/formation, including the storytelling approach and its application to social justice as seen in the work of Coles; the Respect and Responsibility approach of Lickona, which includes sex education within the context of character education; the Youth and Caring Program; Value Driven Schools; and the work of the National Catholic Educational Association. (KB)