Our 33 schools are a microcosm of the Universal Church: high schools, special learning centers, and elementary schools serving families across all five counties of the Diocese. Each has its own unique character, yet they share the same fundamental mission: to bring Jesus Christ to the world through our students and families.
Father Stephan Isaac, Chaplain at Bethlehem Catholic High School and former Chaplain at two other diocesan high schools, is inspired by the “joy and enthusiasm for the Lord” he sees in his students.
“Our students love Our Lord Jesus and His Church,” he said. “They courageously strive to grow in holiness and discipleship, always wanting to follow Christ and be transformed by Him.” Preparing students for Harvard is important, but preparing them for Heaven is the ultimate goal.
Our principals witness this mission lived out daily. Sister Anna Musi of St. Peter School in Reading sees faith expressed in the compassion among faculty who support each other during trying times. “I love seeing that beautiful response and immediate outreach,” she said, noting how students “keep hope alive in the midst of challenges.”
At St. Joseph the Worker School in Orefield, Principal Sarah Johnson sees Christ reflected in everyday acts of kindness: “the eighth grader who helps a kindergarten student off the bus with her heavy backpack,” and “fabulous teachers who connect with their students and then help them learn.” To be a STJW Blue Knight, she said, “is to live the faith each and every day.”
John Petruzzelli, Principal of Berks Catholic High School in Reading, points to the newly formed “Societas Fidelium” prayer group as a sign of faith alive among students. “Several students came together last year to form this group because of a desire to pray together as peers in a more earnest way,” he explained.
For Amy Hannis-Miskar of St. Jerome Regional School in Tamaqua, the impact of Catholic education is lasting. “It all comes down to that common mission,” she said, “to leave a lasting legacy, one that is grounded in prayer and Scripture.”
Across our schools, reverence for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is evident as students learn to encounter Jesus truly present in the Holy Eucharist. Elementary schools welcome students into caring, faith-filled communities often described as “family,” where lifelong friendships are formed. High school students explore the rich depths of Church theology through Socratic seminars, encounter Christ on Kairos retreats, and serve neighbors in need through service projects and food pantries.
Our schools truly are beacons on the hill, places that offer profound encounters with God - Our Creator, Father, and Redeemer. We share a common faith that we express in diverse ways. Whether it is serving each other or serving Our Lord, our schools prepare our young people not just to be ready to enter society, but to transform it.
Article author Katie Albright is the Director of Catechesis in the Office of Education for the Diocese of Allentown.
