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 benefiting the 33 Catholic schools located in the Diocese of Allentown.
“For many of our donors, every week is Catholic Schools Week,” Pete Waldron, President of the Catholic Foundation, said. “They are driven by a strong desire to sustain the success and outcomes witnessed in Catholic schools.”
Faustin Weber, a Catholic school principal in Texas, and a national advocate and thought leader for Catholic education, has written extensively on the transformative power of Catholic education as a tool for evangelization and community building. He suggests that the life of faith should be the foundation upon which all other aspects of the school stand, integrating it into academics, arts, and athletics.
“Catholic schools exist to encourage a living encounter with Jesus Christ,” Weber shared in a LinkedIn post. “We seek to form students who are faithful. Through our school masses, our morning prayer, our study and service opportunities, students are immersed in a culture where the practice of faith is natural, almost like breathing.”
Catholic education and Catholic schools are some of the largest evangelization efforts of young people in a parish and an integral piece to fostering the Church’s mission.
Catholic Schools Key to Students’ Faith Formation
“If we want our Church to continue being vibrant and alive in the future, we need to concentrate on our young people and their faith formation through our Catholic schools,” says Monsignor Daniel Yenushosky, Vicar General for the Diocese of Allentown and pastor of Holy Trinity Parish, Whitehall.
Monsignor Yenushosky serves on the Board of Pastors that oversees school operations for Good Shepherd Regional School in Northampton which serves five parishes including Holy Trinity.
The legacy of Catholic education in the Diocese of Allentown dates back to 1743, when the first Catholic school opened its doors as a single classroom in Bally, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Today, Saint Francis Classical Catholic Academy proudly stands as the second oldest Catholic school in the original 13 colonies.

To keep this 282-year tradition going, school and parish leaders have turned to the Catholic Foundation to help them start endowment funds to provide much needed future income.
While many students aspire to attend or remain in Catholic schools, financial constraints often pose challenges for families. Cost is cited as the primary reason for families not enrolling their children in Catholic schools. However, the presence of healthy endowment funds ensures that scholarships are available to support families in keeping their children in Catholic schools.
Teacher Excellence Endowments also play a vital role in recognizing and honoring the dedicated teachers and staff who contribute to the academic and spiritual development of students.
Legacy Gifts: Sustaining the Mission for Generations
The Catholic Foundation encourages donors to consider legacy gifts, providing a lasting impact on Catholic education. Planned gifts, including contributions through wills, memorials, IRA transfers, and insurance and investment beneficiary designations, find a meaningful home in endowment funds.
“Making a forever gift to your favorite Catholic school ensures that the rigorous academics, unwavering faith, guiding principles, and service to others will continue to shape the lives of students for generations,” Waldron said.