Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis are “knocking it out of the park,” said Yen Fasano, associate director of Catholic Schools’ Drexel Mission Schools Initiative at the archdiocese. “We’re making a huge difference, not only academically but spiritually, as well, in the formation of these young souls that we get to help form.”
Research on Catholic education over the last 50 years shows that Catholic schools make a difference, said Gayle Stoffel, associate director of leadership in the archdiocese’s Office for the Mission of Catholic Education. Catholic school students are an important part of the Church’s future, she said.
Yen Fasano
Students who graduate from Catholic schools are more likely to be civically engaged, Stoffel said, more likely to go to Mass and more likely to consider vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
“I really believe that Catholic education and Catholic schools are the greatest gift to the country over the last century,” Stoffel said.
And enrollment at archdiocesan schools is growing, she said.
To mark National Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, Fasano and Stoffel joined “Practicing Catholic” host Patrick Conley to describe the value of archdiocesan Catholic schools and how the faithful can support them.
The goal of the Mission for Catholic Education is to support parish and school programs so that, at the local level, “we can cultivate and form missionary disciples (who) go out and transform the world,” Stoffel said.
Gayle Stoffel
Catholic schools help students reach their full potential, Stoffel said. It’s important to help children think critically and be disciples, saints and scholars who can transform the world, she said.
Many schools hold special celebrations and events during Catholic Schools Week, Stoffel said. “I would encourage you to … join in those festivities, to pray for our Catholic schools,” she said. “It seems so simple, but it’s so important.”
She also encouraged the faithful to learn about parental choice and education, and seek resources from the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the Church’s public policy voice in Minnesota.
“They do a great job in helping advocate for school choice at the state level,” Stoffel said.
In addition to prayer, Fasano encouraged people to give time and assistance to Catholic schools, and if possible, financial help.
“Giving of your time, whether it’s in tutoring or being able to substitute or help out in any capacity is a great gift to our schools and the leadership,” Fasano said. Another suggestion is “sending along gratitude to teachers and leaders that are heroically and sacrificially serving our children in the most beautiful of ways,” she said.
To learn more ways the faithful can support Catholic schools, listen to the full interview. The episode debuts at 9 p.m. Jan. 28 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM. The show also airs at 1 p.m. Jan. 29 and 2 p.m. Jan. 30.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Brian Ragatz, president of Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE), and Mike Gerard, manager of the University of St. Thomas’ Catholic-STEM (C-STEM) lending library, who describe CSCOE’s initiative to factor faith into science, technology, engineering and math courses; and Nick Brady and Father Jim Livingston from St. Paul in Ham Lake, who describe how that parish’s Next Steps program helps build relationships and community.
Listen to all of the interviews after they have aired at
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