The Beginning of Catholic Schools in America

By DEACON SEAN COSTELLO

Catholic education in this country really began on May 9, 1852, at the First Plenary Council in Baltimore. Here, the bishops of the country met to outline a vision for the Church in America. At that meeting, one of the biggest concerns brought up was that public schools were presenting Protestant theology and teaching students about “popery,” which was a derogatory term for Catholics at the time. The bishops present, which was every bishop in the country at the time, declared that every parish should create a Catholic school and teach Catholic doctrine to children.

The newly appointed archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, St. John Neumann, observing the massive influx of Catholic migrants into his diocese, began the process of creating the first diocesan school district in the nation. This was greatly supported by the faithful of his archdiocese who were experiencing outside influences and discrimination in their public schools. The Archbishop reached out to religious communities who answered his call. Sisters from around Europe arrived, ready to teach in these newly founded schools and to serve the children in their care.

After one of his students in Catholic school was hospitalized from injuries sustained from a beating because he was enrolled in a Catholic school, the Archbishop knew something had to be done. He wanted his students to be identifiable by other Catholic students so that they would be able to come to each other’s aide should another student be attacked. He was impressed by the sense of loyalty to the clan that Scottish immigrants who had come into his diocese held, and so he asked pastors in the diocese to model their children’s school uniforms after the Scottish Clans, which is why so many of our schools wear tartans to this day.

St. John Neumann also instituted Forty Hours Devotional practices throughout his archdiocese. At these sites the faithful would spend 40 straight hours in prayer before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It was to this devotional practice that St. John credited all of the success that his Catholic school system was demonstrating. He knew that it was through this devotion to prayer that our Lord provided His grace. This practice continues through today at several parishes in the archdiocese.

The bishops of the 1850s recognized that our Catholic children needed an educational environment that fostered our Catholic beliefs and held to the reality of the universality of Truth. This vision, established at the First Council of Baltimore, is just as true 172 years later. We know today that our students are being inundated with ideologies and agendas that are often in conflict towards our Catholic Theology and Catholic Social Teaching. And, our culture today is often openly hostile towards those who fully practice the faith. Catholic schools provide their students with an environment that allows them to intentionally seek out Truth. It allows students to study all content areas through the lens of our Faith. Our Catholic schools uphold our teachings which we hold fundamental to our beliefs as Catholics and for the common good of our society.

Although the religious sisters are not predominantly staffing our schools anymore, lay men and women have stepped into these roles with grace and professionalism unmatched. They make tremendous sacrifices, financially and otherwise, to ensure that our students are fully formed to go out and spread the Gospel into their workplaces, communities, and homes. I know we can be better, and through God’s grace, we will be better. We will continue to adapt to meet the challenges that are presented to us, and ensure that we remain just as viable and vital to the formation of the students that grace our schools for the next 172 years. Let us all pray, through the intercession of St. John Neumann, that our schools continue to thrive in serving our Lord’s children and to meet the challenges of today.

Deacon Sean Costello is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.