ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Good afternoon. Thank you all for being here with us for this important announcement. I welcome all of those joining us online as well.

Since its founding, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has educated more than fifteen million students, providing academic and faith formation rooted in Gospel values. That is a staggering figure and one that tells you how important the subject of Catholic education is in the Archdiocese.

Archdiocesan schools serve our students and their families well: more than 95 percent of our high school graduates go on to post-secondary education. Just since the year 2000 our graduating classes have earned more than one billion dollars in scholarships. Our graduates bring these academic talents and their Catholic values to bear on the workplace and the community.

As many of you know, however, Archdiocesan schools face challenges-changing demographics, lower enrollments in some schools and the continued struggle to keep Catholic education affordable for the many families who wish to make this investment for their children's future. We are not alone in this struggle. In fact, it is very much a national trend. Across the country, many dioceses are finding themselves at a crossroads, carefully seeking what path is best for the future of Catholic education.

We, too, find ourselves at this crossroads. And today, I am sharing with you our plan for navigating through the challenges that we face and ensuring that we maintain our long-standing heritage for operating high-standard Catholic schools and parish religious education programs that effectively fulfill their mission.

As I explained in my pastoral letter of October 19th of this year, Called to Conversion and Holiness, I have asked the Office of Catholic Education to undertake a comprehensive study of our elementary and secondary schools, as well as our schools of special education and religious education programs. I am most grateful to the Office of Catholic Education for all of their constant diligence on behalf of our young people and their families. I willingly recognize the presence here of Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, who oversees Catholic education on my behalf; Dr. Richard McCarron, Secretary for Catholic Education; and Ms. Mary Rochford, Superintendent of Catholic Education.

As promised in my pastoral letter I have appointed a Blue Ribbon Commission to guide the Office of Catholic Education in these efforts. Today I am pleased to announce the Commission members. They are well-respected leaders who are committed to Catholic education and have generously agreed to contribute their time, talent, energy, creativity and knowledge to develop a strategic plan to assure the sustainability of Catholic education in the Archdiocese. I am most grateful to them for their expertise and their deep interest in supporting Catholic education. I look forward to their report. Their work begins in January and I have asked them to present their recommendations next fall if at all possible.

To chair this group of talented people I have turned to a proven leader: Mr. Jack Quindlen. Mr. Quindlen had a distinguished career at the Dupont Company from which he retired as a Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. He has served as a member of the Villanova Board of Trustees, and was president of the Archdiocesan Board of Education. Mr. Quindlen chaired the Building Committee to design and build Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown and he chaired the Building Committee to design and build Pope John Paul II High School, which opened in Royersford, Montgomery County this September.

What an impressive and dedicated group! I am so grateful to you for your willingness to serve on this commission and focus upon this vital mission. What better time to undertake this examination of Catholic education in Philadelphia than the year 2011 when we will mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of St. John Neumann! The fourth bishop of Philadelphia, my predecessor, was the first to organize Catholic schools at the diocesan level. As we begin our work we ask the intercession of St. John Neumann and the blessings of Almighty God upon our efforts, hoping for a time of renewed enthusiasm and generous support for Catholic education.

Thank you.