The new year has begun in Catholic schools across the Diocese of Columbus! Over the past few weeks, teachers have been busily preparing classrooms and principals have been finalizing plans as we all prepare to welcome back our students. Enrollment is expected to be significantly higher than even last year, which recorded the Diocese’s highest student count in a decade.

Many schools select an annual theme that frames the goals planned for the year ahead. The Office of Catholic Schools has adopted this practice and chosen part of the Emmaus Road story as our theme for this year. This story from Luke’s Gospel happens shortly after our Lord’s death and resurrection. A group of disciples walks along a road to the town of Emmaus, and Jesus comes along beside them. They do not recognize him as he retells all that has happened during His Passion in the context of the prophets of Scripture. Finally, the disciples recognize him when they eat together and he blesses and breaks the bread. “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us?” they ask as they realize His presence.

These words, “Were not our hearts burning,” are our theme. They remind us that Jesus will appear along our road and share our journey giving encouragement and hope, that if we invite him to stay with us, he will reveal himself to us in amazing ways. Our prayer is that we walk forward into this new year confident that Christ accompanies us, knowing the love of God around us.

This theme also points to the fact that we enter into the second year of the National Eucharistic Revival, culminating in the National Eucharistic Congress next summer. During this year, our schools will participate in the revival, renewing our devotion to the Holy Eucharist and to His Real Presence. We will work to strengthen our prayer life and grow closer to the Lord through Adoration and a deepening of our unapologetically Catholic culture.  

We continue to implement our strategic plan Real Presence, Real Future: Our Catholic Schools, which provides a vision for the future of our schools and sets forth our commitment to ensure that our schools continue to grow in Catholicity, academic excellence, and sustainability. We have a particular focus on implementing our Evangelization Plan, helping a love for the Lord to burn in the hearts of our educators, students, and families.

To further support our Catholic culture, our Catholic Schools will enter into the second year of our new Religion Course of Study, a phase focusing on Theology of the Body. More than a program or curriculum, it is a culture based on the teachings of Pope St John Paul II that grounds our schools in respect as men and women created in God’s image and also in the great virtues of our faith.  As we work with one another and with our partners at the Ruah Woods Institute to build this culture, our schools will continue to transform lives through the beauty and truth of our Catholic faith.

In the classroom, we will continue to work to integrate our faith into all content areas, instilling a Catholic worldview throughout or curriculum. This year, we will be working with our educators to revise our Math Course of Study. Professional development for principals will dive deeply into this this year. As Pope Francis has said, “The mission of schools and teachers is to develop an understanding of all that is true, good, and beautiful.” We aspire to make every classroom in our diocese reflect that vision.

Due to Ohio’s recent changes to the EdChoice program, recognizing parents as the primary educators of their children and empowering them to truly choose the educational program that fits their family, and because of the tremendous generosity of all of the donors to our Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund, Catholic school has never been more affordable. We will work this year to improve our financial models and to ensure the good stewardship of the funds entrusted to our children’s education.  

The Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund, a recognized Scholarship Granting Organization in the state of Ohio, will continue to raise tuition assistance dollars. That means that contributions to this Fund up to $750 per person will receive a state tax credit in that amount. It is an excellent opportunity to grow our ability to support families. To learn more or to make a contribution to receive your tax credit, visit https://EmmausRoadScholarship.org.  

Students gather at Columbus St. Agatha School.  Photo courtesy Office of Catholic Schools

Great things will happen this year. Milestones will be reached, challenges overcome, and our students will grow in their faith and in their knowledge. Our Catholic schools have never been more sought out, never been more necessary for the formation of our students, and have never existed in a more supportive economic environment. We remain committed to our belief that Catholic education changes lives and that a life centered on the great truths of our faith leads us to Heaven.  

At their foundation, our schools are places of evangelization tasked to form disciples for a world that so dearly needs them. This essential work will continue in all of the classrooms of the Diocese this year. Please pray for our educators, our students, and their families as we begin the new school year.