Inspired by the words of Pope Benedict XVI, “The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness,” Catholic schools are providing a haven where students can explore the rich Catholic intellectual tradition established by saints like Augustine and Aquinas. This tradition offers a holistic approach to learning, integrating faith, reason, and morality.

From day one, kindergarteners are instilled with the understanding that they were created on purpose for a purpose: that they are beloved sons and daughters of a good Father, created to know, love, and serve him and to spend eternity with him in heaven. This foundational belief shapes the entire Catholic school experience, fostering a sense of purpose and direction in each student’s life.

With programs like the Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist’s Education in Virtue, resources from the Catholic Textbook Project, and teacher formation with the Institute of Catholic Liberal Education, the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Lansing are renewing their mission, art, and craft of teaching our young people.

Did you know:

• We serve more than 8,400 students across 36 schools.
• Enrollment has increased more than 10 percent over the past four years.
• Over $740,000 in diocesan tuition assistance grants were distributed to families serving 820 students.
• 18 of our 27 current seminarians attended Catholic schools or were homeschooled.
• The first new Catholic school in 20 years opened at St. Andrew the Apostle in Saline in the fall of 2023.
• Each of our 4 regional Catholic high schools has a full-time diocesan priest as a chaplain.
• 62 percent of our students scored in the above average or exceptional range on our diocesan reading test.
• 90 percent of our students stated that the adults in their school model what it means to be a practicing Catholic.
• 81 percent of our students state that they believe in the real presence in the Eucharist.

While the cost of a Catholic education can be a concern for some families, diocesan tuition assistance grants have increased 33 percent over the last four years to nearly $700,000. These diocesan grants, along with more than $1 million of tuition assistance offered locally at our high schools and elementary schools, help us keep a Catholic education affordable, accessible, and available.

I thank God for the families who entrust their children to us, for our teachers and administrators, who dedicate their time and talent to our school communities, and for our priests, who faithfully serve our parishes and schools. As our Catholic schools continue to thrive and build up the next generation of saints and scholars, they offer hope for our future; the future for our families, our diocese, our Church, and our world.