Educational Forum

Please note this event has passed. It took place on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul.

Discussion Question:

Why are Catholic schools essential for a strong Church and community?

Video

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Photo Gallery

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Catholic Spirit Article

Communicating Catholic education benefits

By: Susan Klemond

Catholic schools’ combination of quality education and faith formation brings value to students, parishes and the wider community, but financial and social barriers to Catholic education remain for some families, including a growing Latino population, experts noted at a June 25 forum on education sponsored by the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota.

While Catholic schools foster growth in parishes and greater safety in their surrounding communities, the schools, in turn, depend on those institutions for support, six local and national experts said.

“The ‘value proposition’ is to break down barriers to allow those families to live a full spirituality that has then all the educational benefits, but, more importantly, has all the faith benefits that reinforce the cultural predispositions of the family,” said Luis Fraga, director of the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

Titled “Why Are Catholic Schools Essential for a Strong Church and Community?” the forum was held at Cretin-Derham Hall high school in St. Paul and drew 90 pastors, donors, school administrators, educators and community leaders. It was part of CCF’s ongoing “Giving Insights” series, which explores the impact of Catholic philanthropy on the community.

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Moderator & Panelists

Moderator
Sister John Mary Fleming, O.P.
Director of Education, St. Cecilia Congregation
Former Executive Director, Secretariat of Catholic Education, USCCB