"Catholic Education is an outstanding apostolate of hope, seeking to address the material, intellectual, and spiritual needs of over three million children and students. It also provides a highly commendable opportunity for the entire Catholic community to contribute generously to the financial needs of our institutions. Their long-time sustainability must be assured. Indeed, everything possible must be done, in cooperation with the wider community to ensure that they are accessible to people of all social and economic strata. No child should be denied his or her right to an education in faith, which in turn nurtures the soul of a nation." (Remarks by Pope Benedict XVI, The Catholic University of America, April 17, 2008)

I was privileged recently to join the school community at Rosary High School in Aurora, IL as they celebrated Catholic Education Week at an all school Eucharistic Liturgy. As I sat among the teachers and students of this school community, I was touched by their reverent and spirited participation. Also, I was especially moved by the words of one of the senior students, Emily Varges, who spoke at the end of the liturgy about what a Rosary High School education meant to her. Emily began her remarks by pointing out that she had celebrated Catholic Schools' week every January for fourteen years. But it had only been within the past few years that she had grown really to truly appreciate her parents' decision and sacrifice to send her to Holy Angels Elementary School and then to Rosary. Only at this juncture in her life had she seriously considered what a Catholic education meant to her. Somehow she reflected, it's more than the theology courses we take and the prayers we say at the beginning of each class. "It's an intangible feeling.something that's difficult to explain. I only know that Rosary has not only encouraged me to develop my faith, which is certainly important, but Rosary has also brought out qualities within me that I never knew existed." How many students and alums from our schools would echo a similar sentiment? In these days when we struggle with the financial realities that beset all of us, let us move forward with confidence and hope knowing that our struggles to provide and sustain Catholic education are worth all our labors. 

Pat Brady, OP

St. Mary's Dominican High School in New Orleans, LA has a connection to the administration of President Barak Obama.  Lisa Perez Jackson, class of 1979 was named by President Obama to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Her appointment was confirmed January 22, 2009. (A picture of Lisa with a group of seniors from St. Mary's Dominican High School who attended a Close-Up Conference in Washington, D.C.) can be found on: www.stmarysdominican.org

St. Agnes Academy/St. Dominic School in Memphis, TN is a recipient of the Apple Distinguished Schools Award for "their demonstrated success in implementing a 21st century learning environment. This learning environment manifests itself through visible 'best practices' if visionary leadership, an IT infrastructure that supports learning, engaging teaching and learning methods, one-to one mobile computer access for students and teachers, ongoing professional development, and systematic evaluation and assessment of their programs."

The cybary is the largest place in the Research Center. The word cybary is a multi-faceted and evolving term. It represents a hybrid library, a concept that marries the physical library with the virtual library to create a new-age concept of library, technology, and library services. The cybary will offer students the opportunities to retrieve, evaluate, and synthesize information in a way that is optimal to learning and achievement in a technological world." (view brochure) 

San Domenico School in San Anselmo, CA "flips the switch" on a 2,358 panel solar energy system!

On January 30, 2009, San Domenico School and San Francisco-based Recurrent Energy, a distributed power company and a leading provider of onsite solar energy, celebrated the completion of a 412 kilowatt solar energy system. The project, which broke ground in September, consists of 2,358 photovoltaic panels spread across several roof-and ground-mounted arrays, covering almost one full football field in total.

The installation at San Domenico School is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 860,000 pounds annually as determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That is equivalent to removing 70 vehicles from the road, preserving 3 acres of forest from deforestation, or serving 60 U.S. households' electricity needs.

For more information on this project and some of the other sustainability projects in which San Domenico is involved, check their website: www.sandomenico.org