In the nineteenth century, the bishops of the United States believed that without Catholic schools, there was little to no future for the Church in this country. That understanding remained firm for nearly a century. That notion, however, was severely challenged in the 1970s, leading to the halving of the Catholic school system, aided and abetted by the near-disappearance of consecrated Religious from the schools and the mass exodus of Catholics from the cities into suburbia (where few Catholic schools existed and where even fewer were opened). Nevertheless, all the data demonstrate that these schools continue to punch above their weight in terms of academic success, adult retention in the Church, and production of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Further, a renaissance has been aborning in efforts to galvanize Catholic identity and culture, along with a strong commitment to classical models of education.
If it is true that "personnel is policy," a very special person is needed to bring about this renewal. Let's explore the job description together.
Fr. Stravinskas is the founder and superior of the Priestly Society of Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman, a clerical association of the faithful, committed to Catholic education, liturgical renewal, and the new evangelization. Father Stravinskas is also the President of the Catholic Education Foundation, an organization serving as a resource for heightening the Catholic identity of Catholic schools.