A few weeks ago, families of Immaculate Conception Academy in Douglassville received heartbreaking news. After years of faithful service, the school will close its doors at the end of this school year. No one ever wants to see a Catholic school close. Behind every closure are students, parents, alumni, teachers, and parishioners whose lives have been shaped by Catholic education. There are cherished memories, lifelong friendships, and faith journeys that…
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Since 1957, when Notre Dame High School (also known as Notre Dame Green Pond) opened its doors in Bethlehem Township, the co-educational high school’s mission has centered on enriching students’ academic and athletic development as well as their spiritual and cultural growth. Now three new endowed funds will help ensure the Catholic school, part of the Diocese of Allentown’s school system, can continue that mission for generations to come. Futureproofing Notre Dame High…
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Last August, Pope Leo began his Papal Audience address by inviting those gathered to meditate on the word “prepare.” The word “seems simple, but holds a precious secret of Christian life,” he said. In that spirit, the St. Joseph Center for Special Learning just took a big step to prepare to serve future generations of students by creating four donor-designated funds with the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania. The Schuylkill…
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For more than seven decades, the legacy of the Pottsville Catholic High School Class of 1955 has remained woven into the fabric of Catholic education in Schuylkill County. Now, that legacy is poised to inspire future generations in an even more powerful way. The Pottsville Catholic High School Class of 1955 Scholarship Fund has officially been transferred to the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania as a permanent endowment fund, ensuring…
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As Catholic Schools Week 2026 unfolds across the nation, classrooms throughout the Diocese of Allentown are alive with celebration, prayer, and a renewed sense of mission. For 33 Catholic schools serving more than 9,000 students across Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties, the annual observance is more than a tradition — it is a public witness to the enduring power of faith-based education. “Catholic schools have stood the test…
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A Formula for Prayer This week is Catholic Schools Week, and it’s made me reflect on those lessons that stick with you from your school days. I think of the scientific method—a practical tool we probably don’t realize we use every day. We make hypotheses, test them, adjust. It’s become second nature. What if prayer could be like that? I recently came across a cheat sheet I’d made years ago…
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Father Thomas Bortz, pastor of St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in Reading, Pennsylvania, is an avid baseball fan, having visited several major and minor leagues parks across the country. Fr. Bortz just has to walk out the back door of the rectory and be reminded of the challenge facing his parish’s regional Catholic school. In what amounts to a long outfield-to-home-plate throw away, sits a local public elementary school. While Father…
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Sister Marian Sgriccia, Provincial Minister for the School Sisters of Saint Francis, recognizes that the road ahead for Catholic ministries is uncertain. So, to make sure they are not walking that road alone, Sister Marian and her fellow Sisters partnered with the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania and established two new funds to help secure the future of their ministries and strengthen relationships with their supporters. “Through our partnership with…
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For students in our Catholic schools, graduation marks the culmination of years spent in an environment where academic rigor is deeply intertwined with faith and values. Catholic schools form not just minds, but hearts, preparing students for a life of purpose, leadership, and service. These outcomes are important to the donors of the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania. Almost 50 percent of the endowment funds managed by the Catholic Foundation…
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Much of the success in student achievement may be attributed to the dedication of the administration and faculty working in our Catholic schools. Together, along with parents, they cultivate a dynamic and creative learning environment that empowers students to reach their full potential. Attracting & retaining top faculty with a competitive salary has become a key discussion point for parishes and schools locally and nationally. Four years ago, the Catholic…
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