Catholic Education

Almighty God and Father, we give You thanks for blessing the Church with the witness of Saint John Henry Newman, through whom shines Your fatherly care, the Truth of Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of conversion.  In him, You have given us an example of trust in Your divine Providence and the intercession of the Virgin Mary.  In him, You have raised up a holy example of fidelity to the timeless teachings of Holy Mother Church.  With a special love for Catholic education and due warning against the errors of relativism, Your servant John Henry Newman is a shining example for our times.  Grant us, we beseech You, through his intercession, and according to Your holy will, the renewal of faithful Catholic education and fidelity to the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Saint John Henry Newman, pray for us.

(The Cardinal Newman Society, Novena Prayer to St8 John Henry Newman)

Mandate and Goals for the Committee

The committee provides guidance for the educational mission of the Church in the United States in all its institutional settings. The Committee on Catholic Education guides, directs, and coordinates this task, working closely with the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis. The scope of the committee’s work includes Catholic elementary and secondary schools, Catholic colleges and universities, and college campus ministry. The committee advocates for federal public policies in education that are consistent with Catholic values and that uphold parental rights and responsibilities regarding education.

This mandate includes the following areas of responsibility:

1. Catholic primary and secondary schools,
2. Federal advocacy on private school policy issues,
3. Catholic higher education, Ex corde Ecclesiae, especially relations with bishops and presidents,
4. Campus ministry,
5. Development of certification and standards for lay ecclesial ministry at the diocesan level.

KEY MISSION RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Encouraging and supporting efforts in Catholic education by fostering the distribution and implementation of both universal Church documents on education as well as related documents developed by the bishops of the United States
2. Supporting educational efforts in the Church in the United States by developing policies, guidelines, and resources for use by bishops in their dioceses
3. Providing consultation on educational issues when requested, including advising and representing the bishops in Catholic schools and universities
4. Collaborating with the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis regarding evangelization and catechesis in Catholic schools and universities
5. Providing support and advocacy in federal public policy on behalf of Catholic educational institutions from pre-school through high school levels
6. Embodying the concerns and priorities of the bishops of the United States for ministry formation and certification for specialized ecclesial ministries through the work of the subcommittee for Certification for Ecclesial Ministry and Service
7. Bringing to Catholic education the perspectives and concerns of other cultures and people with special pastoral needs through collaboration with other committees/offices

KEY MISSION RELATIONSHIPS

1. With bishops and diocesan offices
2. With related committees and offices of the USCCB
3. With national educational organizations and associations
4. With governmental and legislative bodies
5. With advisory bodies to the Committee
6. With the Holy See and other episcopal conferences