Page 2 - 2019 Annual Report on Catholic Education

A LETTER TO OUR LEADERS + FRIENDS OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION
Feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Catholic education remains a priority of our local Church, and the publication of the 2019 Annual Report on Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis provides an opportunity to reflect on the essential work of Catholic schools and parish catechetical programs during the 2019-2020 school year.
The quantitative data on the following pages gives us an important glimpse into the good work happening in Catholic education across the Archdiocese. A few of these data points are highlighted here:
• Our Catholic schools educate over 25,000 K-12 students and 3,600 preschool students. Together with the 31,600 students enrolled in parish catechetical programs, our schools and parishes serve 60,200 students in the twelve-county greater Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• More families from diverse backgrounds are finding an educational home for their children in Catholic schools. Almost 30% of Catholic school students are students of color, and 20% of Catholic school students are from another faith tradition.
• Our Catholic high school students on average continue to exceed state and national averages for college readiness as measured by ACT testing data.
• Parish catechetical programs depend on over 3,300 volunteer catechists to support their mission.
• Nearly 3,600 children received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist for the first time.
• 75% of parish catechetical leaders serve their parishes in full-time positions. Of those, 60% hold a degree in the field of religious education, catechesis, catholic studies, or equivalent. 42% hold a Master’s degree in one of those fields.
Behind all of these impressive statistics remains the mission of Catholic education that eludes quantitative measurement: the Church’s desire for every child to encounter the reality of the transformative love of Jesus Christ and so reflect the light and strength, truth and goodness, and beauty of the Infinite God. Trusting in the help of God, we strive to remain faithful to this mission to proclaim His love so that each child may respond to His call to be saints.
Jason Slattery, Ed.D. The Most Reverend Andrew H. Cozzens, S.T.D., D.D. Director of Catholic Education Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and
Vicar for Catholic Education