A Reflection on the Future of Catholic Schools

As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week this week, I offer a commentary written last June by Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC). In this commentary, Msgr. Pope reflected on a few of the many challenges currently facing Catholic schools throughout the nation (including the costs of running a school vis-à-vis the ability of many families to pay the tuition in these difficult economic times).

He also noted that, in these challenging times, "More than ever Catholic Schools are needed." He follows up by stating, "New visions are needed if Catholic Education is to have a future as anything but elite private schools for the rich."

Msgr. Pope then referred to two specific examples: Don Bosco Cristo Rey Catholic High School in the Archdiocese of Washington and Saint Jerome Academy in Hyattsville, Maryland. He strongly recommended that schools carefully choose a specific niche (e.g., offering a “back to basics, no-frills” curriculum) in order to stand out and to attract students.

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Msgr. Charles Pope: The Future of Catholic Schools Depends on Bold and Creative Intiatives. Here are Two. (14 JUN 11)

On a personal note, in many ways it was a sad day when Saint Patrick School, a K-8 school in Providence, RI, closed in 2009 - one of several schools that closed in the Diocese of Providence and in other parts of New England over the past few years. These were great resources that the Church community and the greater community no longer had. I had the great blessing of teaching at St. Pat's for fifteen years.

St. Pat's, though, did not close completely. The economics were such that it could not afford to keep its doors open as a K-8 school. However, it reopened in the fall of 2009 as Saint Patrick Academy, and it has positioned itself to be a small, affordable high school. It is a great initiative, and it meets a real need in the greater community. May this continuing transition be greatly blessed, and may the Lord send an outpouring of choice blessings on each of the Catholic schools throughout the nation.