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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Back when David Lengel attended St. Joe’s Catholic School, and later Reading Central Catholic, the benefits of a Catholic education were the farthest thing from his young mind. But these days, the retired engineer has a much better appreciation for the values — namely, hard work, discipline, and respect for others — that his Catholic education instilled in him, and he wants to pay it back. “In time, what I’ve noticed…
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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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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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With its 100th anniversary in sight for 2026, Bethlehem Catholic High School established a clear path to its future by forging a partnership with the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania to manage its endowment fund effort. Bethlehem Catholic moved nine scholarship endowments into the Catholic Foundation — one general and eight other funds started in memory of or in honor of alumni, administrators, or friends of the school. “If you…
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For more than a century, St. Anne School has been a beacon of faith-based education, nurturing young minds and hearts in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. “Rooted in Catholic tradition, we strive to prepare students for a future of academic success, moral responsibility, and compassionate leadership,” said Rev. Anthony Mongiello, Pastor of St. Anne Parish. “However, maintaining our mission requires more than dedication and hard work — it also demands financial sustainability.” Thankfully,…
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Catholic Schools Week (January 26—February 1, 2025), a time-honored national celebration, is the perfect time to recognize how Catholic Education has impacted and shaped the lives of young people in our region for centuries. A key component of the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania’s strategic plan is the commitment to Catholic schools. Almost fifty percent of the Catholic Foundation’s endowment or donor designated funds are earmarked towards operations or scholarships…
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