Catholic Schools: Identity, Excellence and Accessibility

In October I will travel to Washington, D.C. to receive the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, The National Catholic Education Association's highest honor. I am humbled by the honor because I know that this award recognizes literally hundreds of people in our archdiocese who have committed themselves to providing an excellent Catholic education to every child who wants one.

Our archdiocesan vision statement, A Future Full of Hope, notes that the encounter with Jesus in the daily lives of ordinary Christians has the potential to transform our community of faith. At the same time, it raised a serious concern that children and young adults need formation and education opportunities in order to initiate their own encounters with the Lord.

As I approach my 10th anniversary as Archbishop of Seattle, I am mindful of the many ways that priests, religious and lay people in our archdiocese help others encounter Jesus in their daily lives. One of the most important among these is the ongoing provision and expansion of Catholic education.

Sustained Growth

More than 22,000 students were enrolled in archdiocesan Catholic schools last year and the number continues to grow. The commitment to expand and improve Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Seattle ensures not only an excellent academic education, but that more children and young people can encounter Christ and remain in solidarity with the church. This present-day discipleship deserves recognition and celebration.

Perhaps no achievement in the area of education over the past 10 years is having more impact than creation of the Fulcrum Foundation. This initiative has raised more than $30 million since 2002 toward the goal of establishing a $40 million endowment. The endowment is already providing student tuition assistance, assistance to schools in need and supporting programs that promote excellence in teaching and faith formation.

While some dioceses and archdioceses around the country have closed schools over the past 10 years, the Archdiocese of Seattle has opened three new elementary schools: St. Nicholas (K-8), Gig Harbor; St. Cecilia School (K-4), Bainbridge Island; and St. Madeleine Sophie School (K-3, 6), Bellevue. In addition, Pacific Crest Academy in Camas was affiliated with the Archdiocesan system of schools during the same period.

I also take great pride in having granted permission for two new high schools over the past two years in previously underserved communities. Elizabeth Ann Seton High School in Ridgefield will serve Catholic families in Southwest Washington, and a new high school will be built in the Lacey/Olympia area for the benefit of our South Sound faith communities.

Catholic Identity

Many other achievements could be included here if space allowed, and I will give full details of these accomplishments in a special report to be published this fall.  But we must never forget that our mission is to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, so I am especially proud to note here that we implemented a new K-8 curriculum last year for teaching religion that focuses on three goals: Seeing, celebrating and living as a Catholic.

Needless to say, the church community should be the exemplary place where women and men personally encounter Christ and experience God's transforming love. When we recognize this fact, it is apparent that the process of encounter similarly should be available to our children and young people.

As parents and students prepare for another school year, we have much to celebrate in the quality of our Catholic elementary and secondary schools. Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle, like those across the nation, are known for their academic excellence.

They also are a means for initiating an authentic encounter with the Lord and one of the ways we, as followers of Christ, become stewards of the faith. Looking beyond the present to a future full of hope, Archdiocese of Seattle Catholic schools create a nurturing environment for initiating the conversion of our young people.

Providing this encounter experience is part of our vocation as Christian stewards, and we may all take pride in the role our Catholic schools are playing to fulfill it.