The hope of our living Church, our Nation under God, and the conservation of God’s green earth rests with the young. Given the exceptionally challenging times in which we live, this is more profoundly true than ever before.
We live in remarkably changing times. Many well-regarded futurists have been reading the current economic crisis as the beginning of a seismic shift in how the world functions.
Technology convergence, environmental conservation, global connectivity, new products, new energy sources, new healthcare solutions, a new economy — a whole new and more sophisticated world. With the certainty of our faith leading the way, we welcome change. As we anticipate these changes, we want to be sure our children are prepared academically and spiritually to help make their way and make a difference in the exciting world that awaits.
Many of the influencers, inventors, builders, caretakers, educators, physicians and social and religious leaders of tomorrow are sitting at the moment in our Catholic school classrooms receiving a quality education. We in the Diocese of Norwich across eastern, central and southern Connecticut have more than 5,000 of tomorrow’s best citizens attending 20 elementary schools, four secondary schools and two affiliated secondary boarding schools, all unified in their commitment to educational excellence and the development of the whole person. Today’s Catholic schools are as dedicated as they ever were to the core principles of respect for oneself and others, honesty, service, the value of a quality academic education and a strong foundation in our Catholic faith.
The standardized academic measures such as the ITBS and CogAt test scores are consistently running well above average. These results confirm the dedicated teamwork of our administrators, teachers, involved parents, pastors, volunteers and the students themselves. As always, it is the harmony of academics and character development that defines a Catholic education. According to a recent Fordham Institute survey, 88 percent of Catholics view Catholic Schools favorably. Further research indicates that it is the moral values and discipline that is most often considered the most valuable part of the Catholic School experience.
Having St. Patrick Cathedral School yard right outside my window here at the Chancery, I have often witnessed school Principal Cathy Reed lead the children in prayer outside just before they proceed into school in the morning. I am so impressed with how the children respond to the discipline of quieting down for prayer time and then moving in an orderly fashion into school. I also hear the children at recess and see how respectfully they interact. I see the same behaviors and enthusiasm in all our schools. As our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, reminds us “…a faith-based education nurtures the soul of a nation.” We are nurturing tomorrow’s Church. We are helping nurture a more compassionate society. We are creating a more hopeful future for student, family and community. It all begins in the school yard. It begins with discipline, respect and prayer.
This nurturing that begins at the elementary school level, transitions to our family of secondary schools, all six of which are unique and accomplished teaching institutions. Students making that transition are prepared to further develop a Catholic world view as they grow in their understanding of the collaboration of faith and reasoning. They are also extremely well prepared to take the next step in their education, as an extraordinary 96 - 99 percent of graduates from the Norwich Diocese Catholic secondary schools are accepted into college. Their discipleship and community consciousness is wonderfully active and inspiring.
While we do not have a Catholic college in the diocese, we do have an active campus ministry to keep the continuum of faith formation alive and well among our students who choose to attend any of the state or private colleges and universities in our area.
Among all the good news about the vitality of Catholic education across the diocese, there is the severe challenge of today’s declining economy. The economic crisis has placed enormous financial pressure on our schools just as it has on all institutions of learning – public, private and Catholic. These pressures require creative thinking, tough choices and generous supporters. Our diocesan family of parishes will do everything possible to weather the storm. Faith will lead the way. There is no higher calling we share than supporting our schools as a place of interactive learning, character development, confidence-building and nourishing of faith and hope. This is our challenging but joyful mission.
