Archdiocese holds intimate gathering for 3,500 educators

More than 3,500 Catholic educators from across the Archdiocese of Philadelphia gathered at the Convention Center on Friday morning for what was called the region's first Archbishop's Day for Teachers and Administrators.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, who said he held such sessions every year he was bishop in Denver and Rapid City, S.D., used the occasion to thank educators and release a pastoral letter outlining his commitment to Catholic schools and stating that religion remains at their core.

"The main purpose of Catholic schools has been and always will be religious; in other words, to form students in Catholic faith, a love of God, and an abiding respect for the human person," he wrote.

At the start of Friday's session, Chaput noted that when he was in Rapid City, there were just two Catholic high schools and two elementary schools, and he knew every teacher.

As he looked out over a sea of educators in the cavernous hall, he lamented that such close relationships were not possible in Philadelphia.

"So we have a gathering to help me learn in some minuscule way what you are like," he said.

In his six-page letter, Chaput recalled that shortly after he arrived in the archdiocese in fall 2011, the schools were in turmoil.

A panel appointed by his predecessor, Cardinal Justin Rigali, had released a report that called for sweeping changes, including closing 45 of the 156 elementary schools and four high schools to stem deficits and cope with plunging enrollment.

"At the start of my ministry in Philadelphia, we faced many painful decisions about our Catholic schools," he wrote. "But thanks to the labor of many pastors, parents, and educators - too many to name - we have now begun to create new structures and spirit that will help our schools be sustainable in the future."

As a result of those changes, all 17 high schools stayed open, and the archdiocese turned over management of them to a new, independent nonprofit - the Faith in the Future Foundation.

A total of 123 Catholic elementary schools remain, and many are regional schools created through mergers.

In addition, 15 Catholic elementary schools in inner-city neighborhoods have become mission schools run by an independent network. Chaput's letter said mission schools demonstrated the archdiocese's recommitment to Catholic urban education.

"These schools are beacons of hope to their communities; they provide a high-quality, low-cost education to more than 4,100 children of all faiths from many of the city's most underserved neighborhoods," he wrote.

The teachers and administrators who attended the event work with 56,500 students in Catholic schools in the archdiocese - 13,500 in high schools and 43,000 in elementary schools.

Also Friday, Christopher Mominey, chief operating officer and secretary for Catholic education, gave an upbeat talk in which he discussed what he termed the six foundational virtues for Catholic schools: respect, integrity, enthusiasm, collaboration, innovation, and excellence.

After the program, Rita Schwartz, president of the union that represents teachers at the Catholic high schools, said the day had been valuable.

"It's nice once in a while to have your archbishop say you're doing a good job," she said.

She said teachers welcomed Chaput's pastoral letter.

"A pastoral letter on education is good," she said. "It's something we needed to have.

A spokeswoman for the archdiocese said Chaput's letter would be distributed to parishioners and reporters early next week.