Catholic education is more than an educational enterprise. It is a ministry of evangelization. It is a partnership between families, parishes, schools and the Diocese. It is one of the most visible expressions of the Church’s commitment to forming young people in faith, knowledge, virtue and service.
Catholic Education Commission
For generations, Catholic schools have shaped the lives of countless students throughout the Diocese. They have formed future priests, religious, educators, business leaders, civic leaders, parents and faithful parishioners. They have provided a foundation not only for academic achievement but also for lives rooted in Christ and committed to the common good.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
(Hebrews 13:8)
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Catholic Schools
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Students
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Teachers & Staff
The Commission’s review found many reasons for confidence. We encountered dedicated pastors who view Catholic education as central to their ministry. We met principals and teachers whose commitment to students extends far beyond the classroom. We listened to parents who sacrifice significantly in order to provide their children with a Catholic education. We witnessed benefactors whose generosity reflects their belief in the enduring value of Catholic schools.
At the same time, we identified challenges that require thoughtful leadership and decisive action. Demographic change, financial pressures, facilities needs, governance complexities and educational competition are realities that cannot be ignored. These challenges, however, should not be viewed as obstacles to hope. Rather, they should be understood as opportunities for renewal, innovation and growth.
The recommendations are offered with that spirit of hope. They are not intended merely to preserve existing structures. They are intended to strengthen the mission of Catholic education and position it for future success. They seek to ensure that future generations of students will continue to encounter Christ, receive an excellent education and experience the unique benefits of Catholic school communities.
The future of Catholic education in the Diocese will not ultimately be determined by budgets, buildings, enrollment reports or organizational charts. Those matters are important and deserve careful stewardship. Yet the future will be determined primarily by the willingness of the Catholic community to embrace a shared responsibility for the formation of the next generation.
The schools entrusted to our care today were built through the faith, sacrifice, generosity and vision of those who came before us. Previous generations invested in Catholic education not because it was easy, but because they believed it was essential.
We now inherit both the benefits of their commitment and the responsibility of their stewardship.
Our task is not simply to preserve what we have received. Our task is to strengthen it, improve it and pass it on to those who follow.
If we remain faithful to that mission, prudent in our stewardship, courageous in our leadership and united in our purpose, Catholic education in the Diocese of Harrisburg will continue to flourish.
Strategic Priorities
The Commission affirms that Catholic identity is the foundation upon which every other aspect of Catholic education rests. The long-term sustainability of Catholic schools depends first upon their effectiveness in forming students as disciples of Jesus Christ.
The Diocese should:
- Ensure that Catholic identity remains the central organizing principle of every school.
- Support schools in strengthening catechesis, sacramental life, prayer and faith formation.
- Encourage active clergy involvement and visible pastoral leadership within schools.
- Strengthen partnerships between schools and parishes to reinforce the evangelizing mission of Catholic education.
- Provide additional resources and accountability measures to assist schools in strengthening religious formation outcomes.
- Continue evaluating faith formation programs and assessment tools to ensure effectiveness.
Desired Outcome
Every Catholic school within the Diocese should be recognized as an authentic and vibrant ministry of evangelization, discipleship and Catholic formation.
Families remain the primary educators of their children. Catholic schools exist to support that responsibility while providing an academically excellent educational experience.
The Diocese should:
- Develop programs that strengthen parent engagement and faith formation.
- Support schools in utilizing academic assessment data to improve student outcomes.
- Strengthen teacher recruitment, retention and professional development efforts.
- Explore educational models and specialized academic programs that distinguish Catholic schools within their local markets.
- Expand opportunities for continuing education and formation of educators.
- Support schools in addressing the needs of diverse learners whenever possible.
- Encourage innovation while preserving fidelity to Catholic educational principles.
Desired Outcome
Catholic schools should provide an educational experience distinguished by both academic excellence and faithful Catholic formation
Effective governance is essential for mission success, financial stewardship and long-term sustainability.
The Diocese should:
- Clarify the authority, responsibilities and accountability of the Education Department.
- Re-establish or strengthen diocesan-level educational advisory structures.
- Develop consistent governance expectations throughout the school system.
- Strengthen reporting relationships among schools, parishes and diocesan leadership.
- Implement regular reviews of school performance, governance effectiveness and sustainability indicators.
- Improve communication and coordination among diocesan departments supporting Catholic education.
Desired Outcome
A governance structure characterized by clarity, accountability, transparency and strategic focus.
Financial sustainability requires disciplined stewardship, accurate information and long-term planning.
The Diocese should:
- Standardize financial reporting and performance measurement throughout the school system.
- Strengthen internal controls and risk management processes.
- Improve monitoring of school financial performance and sustainability indicators.
- Expand scholarship funding opportunities through tax-credit programs and other sources.
- Improve management and utilization of endowment and FOCUS resources consistent with donor intent and long-term sustainability.
- Develop formal remediation processes for schools experiencing significant financial distress.
- Establish clear policies regarding facilities planning, capital investment and resource allocation.
Desired Outcome
A financially sustainable Catholic school system supported by transparent reporting, prudent stewardship and strategic investment.
Sustainability is not simply the preservation of existing structures. Sustainability requires growth, adaptation and continuous improvement.
The Diocese should:
- Develop long-term enrollment growth strategies.
- Evaluate school capacity and demographic trends regularly.
- Identify opportunities for expansion into underserved communities where feasible.
- Support mission schools and schools serving vulnerable populations.
- Strengthen development and advancement efforts throughout the system.
- Establish measurable sustainability goals and key performance indicators.
- Create a culture of continuous assessment and strategic planning.
Desired Outcome
A Catholic school system positioned not merely to survive but to flourish and grow in service to future generations.
Commission Members
- Msgr. Edward Quinlan, Vicar General, Diocese of Harrisburg
- Frank Ryan, Chair; former Pennsylvania State Representative
- Very Rev. Alfred Sceski, Pastor, Saint Joan of Arc Parish, Hershey
- Kyle Sahd, Pastor, Saint Joseph Parish, York
- Nga Vu, Union Community Care; member of the Catholic Education Strategic Visioning Committee
- Eric Zeglen, Executive Director of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning, Shippensburg University; member of the Catholic Education Strategic Visioning Committee
- Sister Rita Smith, SSJ, Principal, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School
- Rachel Langan, Senior Education Policy Analyst, Commonwealth Foundation
- Warren Hudak, PA Commission on Education and Economic Competitiveness and NFIB
- David La Torre, La Torre Communications
- David Schankweiler, Interim President, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
- Scott Sikorski, Director of Legislative Affairs, Senate of Pennsylvania*
- Jeff Merritt, former chair of York Catholic Middle and High School Board of Directors and of the PSU Harrisburg Board of Advisors
- Lisette Rivera, Coordinator, School District of Lancaster Families in Transition Program; member of the Catholic Education Strategic Visioning Committee
- Paul Schemel, Esq., DSS Law; former Pennsylvania State Representative
* Mr. Sikorski did not participate in any meetings or discussions relative to EITC or tax credit programs
Next Steps
Catholic education has been one of the Church’s most effective ministries in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg (Diocese) for generations. Through our schools, countless young men and women have encountered Christ, deepened their faith, received an excellent education and gone on to become leaders in their families, parishes, professions and communities.
Throughout their discussions, school visits, listening sessions and research, the Commission members were continually reminded that Catholic education is fundamentally a ministry of evangelization. Our schools exist to help young people encounter Christ, grow in faith, pursue truth, develop virtue and prepare for lives of service to God and neighbor. Every discussion about governance, finance, academics, enrollment, facilities and staffing ultimately returns to that mission.
The Commission firmly believes that sustainability must never become an end in itself. Financial stability, effective governance, operational excellence and strategic planning are essential because they support the larger mission entrusted to us by the Church. Our objective is not simply to maintain schools; it is to sustain and strengthen the ministry those schools provide.
The future of Catholic education in the Diocese will depend upon continued collaboration among clergy, educators, families, benefactors, parishioners and diocesan leadership. No single group can accomplish this mission alone. Together, however, guided by faith and united by purpose, we can ensure that future generations of students encounter the same opportunities for faith formation, academic excellence and personal growth that have blessed generations before them.
