How KCCF Donors Can Form the Next Generation of Saints

Our new Perennial Catholic Education Network coaches and connects educators to build faithful schools forming the next generation of saints.

By Fr. Robert Sirico
President and Founder
St. John Henry Newman Institute

It is widely acknowledged that there is a clear and profound crisis in American Catholic education which has been building for decades. The specter of that crisis, accelerated by school closures during the COVID pandemic, inspired me to found the St. John Henry Newman Institute (SJHNI) in 2021. The goal was simple: to meet the already great but rapidly growing need for a new renaissance of faithful Catholic education. This work, based on my experience revitalizing my own failing parish school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was centered on respect for the primacy of parents, a return to the Catholic intellectual tradition, and the encouragement of faithful and reverent liturgy—each of which played an important part in the success of Sacred Heart Academy where I witnessed true renewal firsthand.

The crisis that calls for ‘Perennial Catholic Education’

SJHNI works to reclaim the beauty and richness of what we call “Perennial Catholic Education”—a formation that draws on centuries of accumulated wisdom as well as its elevation, stability and richness that our Catholic faith adds to the ancients. In the five years since our founding, the work of forming the next generation of heroes and saints through the renewal of Catholic schools has been growing exponentially across the country.

Many of you may have been fortunate to experience the beauty and the value of a solid Catholic education. In the 1940s and 50s, even public schools exhibited elements of traditional education: one that prepared us for a life well-lived. But since 1960 more than 50% of our Catholic schools have closed and it is common knowledge that public schools have manifestly failed. If we are frank and honest with ourselves, we know this is the natural result of our Catholic schools pursuing too closely the bureaucratic and materialistic models of their public counterparts. Those parochial schools that yet remain often provide only a sprinkling of faith on top of mediocre academics propped up by the latest fads in technology and progressive pedagogy.

At the same time, it is no accident that studies show that by the age of 13, half of Catholics begin to lose their faith. And despite promising trends among adults converts, only one new Catholic joins the Church for every 8 that leave it. This leaves aside entirely the statistics on knowledge and practice of the faith.

Signs of renewal in Catholic education

Nonetheless, there is good reason to hope! Droves of young parents are beginning to desire a faith-filled, formative Catholic education for their children. This kind of education appeals to the minds of the young by speaking to their hearts and imaginations. Sometimes put in terms of “classical” or “liberal arts” this Perennial Catholic Education is one in which students thrive in nourishing and challenging formative environments, building character, cultivating their intellect, and preparing for a life of holiness.

Today, there is a new opportunity to reclaim the beauty and depth of Perennial Catholic Education. In doing so we offer parents and young students the best foundation for a life in which faith and reason harmonize, and we again see scholars, poets, political leaders, clergy and religious emerging from our Catholic schools ready to shine their light in this present darkness.

Support a growing network of Catholic educators

SJHNI plays its part by renewing Catholic education one school at a time—across our country and around the world. This May we launched our Perennial Catholic Education Network and at present nearly 50 schools have joined from the US, Canada, Europe, Africa, and soon Australia, with a goal of growing a network in the coming years that reaches thousands of Catholic schools across the globe.

When each school joins the network, we work with them to assess their particular challenges and then guide them on their path of renewal and rediscovery of perennial traditions, timeless poetry and literature, and a deeply Catholic philosophy of science and mathematics. We help schools to hire, train, and retain staff who love the Church. We integrate the beauty and richness of our Catholic liturgy into daily life at school and the value of silence and mediation which enhances a child’s capacity to focus attention. And we coach school leaders in best practice to achieve authentically Catholic culture, trusting relationships among all stakeholders, and sustainable business practices. We also work directly to form and coach educators to understand and implement perennial practices in the classroom.

We do all of this through several growing programs:

The Perennial Catholic Education Network provides resources and expert coaching for schools to grow in six Pillars of Excellence: Catholic Culture, Governance, Sustainability, Formation, Pedagogy and Curriculum.
The School Leaders Summit at Acton University – over the course of a week each June, we introduce a cohort of pastors, school leaders and board members to what excellent and faithful Catholic education can be—and how practically to build a free and virtuous society!
Our School Accelerators—two and a half day events offered around the country several times per year—these events are intensive leadership team retreats that build school capacity for Perennial Catholic Education. These events encourage collaboration among school leaders and help them advance quickly along their renewal path.

This is a critical moment: In God’s providence we’ve been given an opportunity to address our educational crisis when the world most needs the Church’s unique ability to form the human person. After all, as Catholics, we have been doing this kind of thing for 2,000 years!

I invite individuals who feel called to lend their aid to this movement to restore and renew Catholic education to take a closer look at the St. John Henry Newman Institute and consider partnering with us in this important work.

START YOUR JOURNEY

Our team shares your values and understand that every charitable situation is unique. We are here to provide answers to your questions regarding The Charitable Fund or walk you through getting started with an account.

Open Account