Archdiocese of Chicago Department of Stewardship and Development Proposed Campaign for Catholic Education. Case Statement

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1 Archdiocese of Chicago Department of Stewardship and Development Proposed Campaign for Catholic Education Case Statement The Church of Chicago is called to introduce the world to its savior, Jesus Christ. This is the work of evangelization; it is the Church's mission in every age and culture. We are called to proclaim the Gospel and to give witness to Christ's saving power through our words and our example. Catholic schools, and all our religious education and faith formation ministries, are instruments of evangelization. As such, they are vitally important to the mission of the Archdiocese of Chicago and all its parishes, schools, agencies and institutions. Today, as we seek to carry out our evangelizing mission, the most significant obstacle we face is the increasing secularization of our society. To better understand this challenge, we must have the insights of those working closest to our parishes and schools. To overcome this challenge, we must commit ourselves and our resources to the spiritual renewal and faith formation of our people. We must also give witness in what we say and what we do to the Church's teaching on matters of faith and morals so that by the power of God's grace we can transform the world according to Gospel values. Nearly a dozen years ago, as we celebrated the beginning of the third Christian millennium, the Archdiocese of Chicago conducted an archdiocesan-wide capital campaign called Sharing Christ's Gifts. The campaign's primary objective was to encourage stewardship the sharing of all Christ's gifts (spiritual and material). The campaign's financial objective was to raise funds to strengthen our parishes and address urgent archdiocesan needs. Thanks to the leadership of our pastors and the generosity of our people, the millennium campaign was more successful than anyone imagined. Now it's time to turn our attention to the needs of Catholic education. This is not a new initiative. Rather, it is a continuation of the efforts we began with the millennium campaign. In this proposed campaign, the primary objective once again is to encourage generous sharing of all Christ's gifts. We also want to help secure the financial health and vitality of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Chicago including our schools, all our parish-based faith formation programs and our seminary. Every parish will be invited to set aside a substantive portion of the funds it raises for its own education and faith formation needs. Although the sharing formula has not yet been decided, a portion of each parish's campaign funds will also be used by the Archdiocese to meet the priority needs of Catholic education beyond individual parish boundaries and to support the capital and endowment needs of the major seminary, the University of Saint Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary.

2 Although many challenges exist, we face them with a joyful heart, knowing that through our trust in the Lord, everything is possible. As we move forward in planning, we are seeking, as we did in Sharing Christ s Gifts, the input from our pastors, lay leadership, and significant stakeholders for formation and Catholic education in the Archdiocese. This input helped shape the Sharing Christ s Gifts campaign and will be a vital effort in understanding the priorities and considerations for this campaign. So do not worry and say, What are we to eat? or What are we to drink? or What are we to wear? All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Matthew 6: Strengthening Catholic Schools, Parish Religious Education and Seminary programs This campaign will continue the work of the millennium campaign by focusing on three overall priorities: 1. The children and young people in our Catholic schools are our first priority. This includes raising funds for tuition assistance for current and future families, capital and programmatic improvements and endowment for parish-based elementary and high schools. The scholarship initiative expands access and supports enrollment in all schools, including those owned or sponsored by our archdiocese, religious communities or other ecclesiastically approved entities. The Archdiocese of Chicago operates the largest diocesan school system in the United States with over 86,000 students in 256 elementary and high schools. The 2010 Annual Report for Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago shows that our schools are turning the corner in addressing serious challenges in enrollment and fiscal management. More than half (53 percent) of our schools have a stable or growing student population. This school year, the Archdiocese s Enrollment Initiative Program has allocated $430,000 to 1,344 students (including 324 new students) across 65 schools. Enrollment management teams are now in development in 30 schools and the goal is to increase that to 75 schools. In 2010, for the first time in five years, and in the midst of a severe economic downturn, the number of Latino students in Chicago s Catholic schools has grown. Latino students now make up 18.7 percent of Catholic school enrollment. The goal is to double that number by the school year. As Francis Cardinal George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago says, Finances remain a constant need, especially for parents who sacrifice so much to send their children to a Catholic elementary or secondary school. Our parishes subsidize their schools, as religious orders help support theirs. Many donors contribute to the more than half a billion dollars it costs to run our schools each year. Much more is needed to help introduce the world to its savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, and to help transform the world according to Gospel values. The Lessons that Last a Lifetime initiative, is an example of the difference that can be made with additional tuition assistance and scholarship funds. Just into its third year, Lessons that Last a Lifetime has generated nearly $1.5 million to provide tuition assistance and program support for Catholic schools in need that do not qualify for support from Big Shoulders. The Cardinal s Scholarship Fund is an integral part of Lessons that Last a Lifetime that provides emergency tuition assistance to families who have either lost their jobs in this economy or have

3 suffered major setbacks in their income. More than 500 families have received assistance from this fund, but the number of families in need far exceeds the Fund s capacity to help. Additionally, Big Shoulders provides support to the Catholic schools in the neediest areas of inner-city Chicago. They support these schools in a variety of ways: scholarships, special education programs, instructional equipment, much-needed school facility improvements, faculty support, and operating grants. Much greater support is needed. These efforts and many more show the vitality of our Catholic schools but also the enormous financial need. Cardinal George has said, Our schools academic results speak for themselves, but when children attend Catholic schools they are formed in ways that empower them to live with hope and come to a developed sense of charity and justice. This can only happen because our schools are religious schools. The message of the Gospel is as much a part of our students day-to-day lives as science, technology and literature. The Archdiocesan School Board has spent more than a year gathering data on the current state of Catholic schools. The overall report card is excellent with regard to student outcomes; however, the financial picture is more troubling as many economic stresses on the schools exist. A strategic plan has been created that focuses on seven broad themes: Catholicity, Academics, School Leadership, Enrollment, Management and Governance, Infrastructure and Public Policy. The Board believes targeted funding and strategic use of both old and new infrastructure will help ensure our overall goal: to provide a great Catholic education to every child who wants to enter our school doors. 2. Our parish religious education programs, youth and young adult ministry, adult formation and other faith formation programs are also a priority. Religious education is a key ministry of all parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago. We know that, for varied reasons, many of our children are enrolled in parish-based religious education programs and not in Catholic schools. It is our responsibility to ensure the quality of our religious education programs is first rate. There are approximately 95,371 students enrolled in parish religious education programs throughout the archdiocese. These students are served by 8,242 catechists. Adult faith formation is also a priority for parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago. Each parish, through planning with its pastor and parishioners, will identify the educational and faith formation priorities that will best meet the needs of the people it serves. Parishes will be asked how this campaign can help the Church provide quality Catholic education and faith formation to adults, youth and children. Funding is especially needed to support the education and training of catechists and of lay ecclesial ministers who work in parishes throughout Cook and Lake counties. School-age children should receive formal and systematic catechesis in a parish-based catechetical program, a Catholic school, or a program of home-based catechesis in which the content of the faith and the experience of Christian life is presented authentically and completely.. (National Directory for Catechesis) 3. Our archdiocesan seminary, the University of Saint Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary, has capital and endowment needs that we must address if we are to ensure the future of our archdiocese's pastoral and educational ministries.

4 Cardinal George chose as his motto,to Christ be Glory in the Church. This motto is proclaimed by Saint Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary, and indeed Christ is the focus of the seminary and all its programs, just as George Cardinal Mundelein envisioned when he established this world-class seminary on its present campus in All study, all prayer, and all learning experiences are ultimately aimed at preparing priests to further the message of Christ in the lives of the faithful. Mundelein Seminary exists for one essential purpose: to provide future generations with spiritual leaders priests, deacons, and lay ministers who are well-educated, well-formed, and Christcentered. In 2011, for example, Mundelein Seminary s graduate school enrolls 165 seminarians and 85 priests, religious and laity in its advanced degree programs. Its ministry formation programs enroll 400 candidates for the diaconate or lay ministry in both English and Spanish programs. Approximately 1,500 Catholic school teachers participate in the Fundamentals of Catholic Theology, to insure their competent teaching of the faith to our children. Through our ongoing Formation program, Mundelein also trains priests who are about to assume the role of pastor in the leadership and administrative skills needed for that role. Additionally, through an innovative partnership with the Kellogg School of Management, Mundelein offers experienced pastors the opportunity for advanced pastoral leadership training. For the past 90 years, Saint Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary has offered excellent ministry formation in an inspirational atmosphere. As we look to the future in faith, we seek to maintain an excellent faculty, staff and programs to renew our facilities to meet the changing needs of the Church. We also must preserve the natural beauty of our seminary campus, while ensuring secure and hospitable facilities for campus residents, guests and visitors. In addition, the Seminary seeks to offer people of faith more opportunities for engagement with the theological school. The capital and endowment funding needs of our Seminary include: Endowed Academic Chairs Endowed Library Endowment for Seminary Operations Preserving and Enhancing Facilities and Grounds Needs for the facilities include enhanced safety and security measures as well as renovations to the auditorium, refectory and conference center to increase Mundelein s capacity to serve as a Catholic cultural center for the archdiocese. Campaign Expenses There are costs involved in running a major campaign, including the creation of materials and the infrastructure to manage a campaign. This includes printing, postage, campaign materials, the campaign video, special events, campaign counsel and more. The Archdiocese of Chicago will assume all costs for the campaign through the archdiocesan portion of the funds raised.

5 Conclusion Here in the Archdiocese of Chicago, everyone s life is richer because of our Catholic schools, our parish-based religious education and faith-formation programs, and our Seminary, Saint Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary. These are the institutions and ministries that allow us to introduce the world to its savior, Jesus Christ, and carry on His work here in Cook and Lake counties. May Christ bless us as we strive to develop the human, physical and financial resources that are essential to the ministry of His Church. May His abundant sharing of Himself body and blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist empower all of us, His sisters and brothers, to be generous and self-sacrificing in our gifts of time, talent and treasure to His schools, His parishes and His seminary. Christo Gloria in Ecclesia! To Christ Be Glory in the Church!