What does a Catholic school education mean?

by Holy Cross Sister Genevra Rolf

Associate Superintendent

What’s does a Catholic School education mean to you? These are statements I often hear.

"I don’t know what I would do without the Catholic school my son attends. He loves learning about Jesus and all of His friends, and his special love for him alone. It is a safe environment where his teachers care for him. He is reading above grade level and is happy to go to school everyday. Extended Day is a real plus since I work outside the home. I hope I can continue to afford to meet the tuition required."

"It is a huge expense, but I will continue to sacrifice to make it possible for my children. I went to Catholic schools and I want my kids to have the same benefits. I learned that religion is part of life, not just an Easter Sunday event. I had great teachers who wouldn’t settle for less than my best work. They taught me to think, to perform, and to value all with whom I came in contact; like them or not. My children are learning these same values now and this is a great support to me as a parent."

"Catholic schools have been an excellent investment in the future for my children. It has paid off in scholarships and letters of admission to some of the best colleges in the nation."

"It has made my kids aware of the need to give back to the community through service and through action for the poor. I know they will be socially active and responsible citizens because of the values they learned at school. While it has been a sacrifice to meet the rising tuition costs, it has been worth it for my children."

"The Catholic schools my kids have attended provide a rigorous education in a faith-based context. The arts have not been dropped in favor of other programs, and my son has made honor band and continues to love to perform for school musicals and other occasions. My daughter is turning into quite an artist. Her pencil drawings show a talent that has potential. I could not send my children to the Catholic school without assistance from the school. As a single working mother the assistance I receive with tuition has made it possible for me to keep my children in Catholic schools. I will be forever grateful for the opportunities they have received."

Statements such as these speak to the worth of Catholic education as well as the sacrifices parents make so that their children may attend a Catholic school.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have also spoken about the worth of Catholic education for the youth of our nation. They have said, "Our vision is clear. Our Catholic schools are a vital part of the teaching mission of the Church. The challenges ahead are many but our spirit and will to succeed are strong…We must respond to challenging times with faith, vision, and the will to succeed because the Catholic schools’ mission is vital to the future of our young people, our nation, and especially our Church."

The Bishops have called "upon the entire Catholic community" clergy, religious, and laity to assist in addressing the critical financial questions that continue to face our Catholic schools. This will require the Catholic community to make both personal and financial sacrifices to overcome these financial challenges. The burden of supporting our Catholic schools can no longer be placed exclusively on the individual parishes that have schools and on parents who pay tuition. This will require all Catholics, including those in parishes without schools, to focus on the spirituality of stewardship.

The future of Catholic schools depends on the entire Catholic community embracing wholeheartedly the concept of stewardship of time, talent, and treasure, and translating stewardship into concrete action."

So, what’s a Catholic school to you? Did you attend Catholic schools? If you did, can you say that you grew in your faith? Can you say that it gave you opportunities for a good job and a good life? Is it the reason you are active in your parish and in your community? Is it the reason you think twice before you make life decisions for yourself and your family?

If your children are not in a Catholic school, is it because there are none accessible in your part of the diocese? Or because the one in your area is not affordable?

Where the Catholic schools are accessible, we invite you to consider seriously the benefits and value of the education provided. In most cases, some assistance is available.

Registrations for the 2009-2010 school year will begin soon. For those families who think they cannot afford the tuition, an assessment of ability to pay is available through a third party company.

If you are a Catholic school graduate or a person who wished that a Catholic education had been possible, we invite you to consider the opportunity to help a family by sponsoring a student at one of the Catholic schools in the diocese.

For more information go to UtahCatholic Schools.org or call the Catholic Schools Office at (801) 328-8641.