Catholic Education Foundation Seminar 2025: The Role of the Priest in Today’s Catholic School

July 16-18, at the Athenaeum of Ohio (the seminary of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati).

Fr Peter Stravinskas of the Catholic Education Foundation is once again offering this excellent three-day seminar, intended primarily for bishops, priests, and seminarians. It is entitled The Role of the Priest in Today’s Catholic School.

For further information: call 732-903-5213 or email fstravinskas@hotmail.com.

The Sermon on the Mount, 1877, by the Danish painter Carl Bloch (1834-90); public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.

For whom?  Clergy who are pastors, parochial vicars, or those directly involved in the elementary or secondary school apostolate (or who wish to be) – as well as seminarians. 

When?  From 4:00 p.m. July 15 to 4:00 p.m., July 17, 2025

Where? Athenaeum of Ohio (seminary of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati; located about twenty-minutes’ drive from the Cincinnati airport.) 

How much? $700 (all-inclusive); $650 for registrations before May 31 

The Team

The Catholic Education Foundation – convinced by history and the present reality – believes that the viability of our Catholic schools is largely dependent on the support and involvement of our priests. Our seminar will include workshops dealing with the following topics:

• Conciliar and Papal Teaching on Catholic Education
• The History of Catholic Education in the United States
• The Priest’s Presence in the School Community (Students, Faculty,
Administration, Parents)
• The Priest as the Public Relations Man of the School
• Financial Concerns
• Models of Governance and Best Practices

The speakers are:

Rev. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Ph.D., S.T.D. (President, CEF)

Michael Acquilano (Chief Operating Officer, Diocese of Charleston)

Rev. Patrick Armano (Chaplain & Teacher, Austin Prep, Archdiocese of Boston)

Rev. John Belmonte, SJ (Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Venice)

Steven Cheeseman (President, National Catholic Educational Association)

Rev. Mr. Sean Costello (Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Winona-Rochester)

Rev. Michael Davis (Pastor & Former School Administrator, Archdiocese of Miami)

John DaJak (Executive Director, Secretariat of Catholic Education, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)

Brian Dorrian (Founding Chairman, Philosophy Department, Charlotte Catholic High School)

Kevin Kijewski, JD (Former Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Detroit)

Rev. James Kuroly, EdD. (President/Rector, Cathedral Prep, Brooklyn)

Rev. Thomas Machalski (Pastor, Diocese of Brooklyn; Former Seminary Rector/President)

Rev. Daniel O’Mullane, EdS (Pastor & President/Rector, Lumen Gentium Academy (Diocese of Paterson)

Brother Owen Sadlier, OSF (Professor of Philosophy, St. Joseph Seminary, Archdiocese of New York)

Rev. Msgr. Joseph Schaedel (Pastor & Former School Administrator, Archdiocese of Indianapolis)

Two-Part Webinar for Catholic School Pastors, Priests, Chaplains, Administrators, Teachers

Session hosted jointly by the Catholic Education Foundation and the National Catholic Education Association

If you are a priest with a Catholic school, or a school administrator supporting a priest in his engagement with a Catholic school, don’t miss these webinars hosted by Father Peter Stravinskas, president of the Catholic Education Foundation and NCEA President/CEO Lincoln Snyder, with a special greeting from His Excellency Thomas Daly, bishop of Spokane and chairman of the USCCB committee on Catholic Education!

Webinar 1: Oct. 12, 1-2 pm (EDT): Help Session for Pastors with a Catholic School
In this webinar, a panel of veteran pastors will discuss the big picture for working with a Catholic school. The panelists will cover how to manage a Catholic school effectively, with topics including school personnel, faculty faith formation and financial issues. Panelists will also discuss the annual workshop for school pastors. To register and for more information follow link, here.

Webinar 2: Oct. 12, 2-3 pm (EDT): Working as a Priest in a Catholic High School

In this webinar, a panel of priests will discuss working in a Catholic high school. Our panelists will discuss the priests’ roles, including administrators, chaplains and teachers; interfacing with administration; and practical advice for supporting faculty formation and Catholic identity. A particular invitation will be given to join the newly formed association for high school priests. To register and for more information follow the link, here.

Fr Peter Stravinskas is Program Director of Pontifex University’s Master of Education in Catholic School Adminstration.

Catholic Education Foundation Seminar: The Role of the Priest in Today’s Catholic School

July 12 - 14th, North Palm Beach, Florida. For bishops, priests and seminarians; participation is limited to 35.

Thank you to Fr Peter Stravinskas of the Catholic Education Foundation for the following information about this wonderful annual event intended primarily for bishops, priests and seminarians. I attended last year as a speaker and was delighted to be part of this event, which is inspiring and full of hope. This offers priests who are involved in or have an interest in orthodox Catholic education practical advice and support.

St John Baptist de La Salle, patron saint of Catholic educators

Fr Peter writes:

The Catholic Education Foundation invites bishops, priests, and seminarians to participate in an intensive and comprehensive three-day seminar The Role of the Priest in Today’s Catholic School.

For whom? Clergy who are pastors, parochial vicars, or those directly involved in the elementary or secondary school apostolate (or who wish to be) – as well as seminarians.

When? From 4:00 p.m., July 12 to 4:00 p.m., July 14, 2022

Where? Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center, North Palm Beach (a ten-minute ride from West Palm Beach Airport)

The Team? Rev. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Ph.D., S.T.D. (President, CEF)

• Michael Acquilano (Director, South Carolina Catholic Conference) , 
• Sister Elizabeth Ann Allen, OP, Ed.D. (Director, Center for Catholic Education, Aquinas College, Nashville), 
• Thomas Carroll (Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Boston), 
• David Clayton (Provost, Pontifex University), 
• Rev. Sean Connolly (Parochial Vicar, Archdiocese of New York), 
• Most Rev. Thomas Daly (Bishop of Spokane; Chairman, USCCB Committee on Education), 
• Rev. Michael Davis (Pastor, Archdiocese of Miami), 
• Mary Pat Donoghue (Executive Director, Secretariat of Catholic Education, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), 
• Most Rev. Arthur Kennedy, Ph.D. (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus, Archdiocese of Boston), 
• Rev. James Kuroly, Ed.D. (President/Rector, Cathedral Prep, Brooklyn), 
• Sister Mary Elizabeth Merriam, OP (St. Michael the Archangel High School, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph), 
• Dr. Margaret Mooney-Suarez (Associate Professor, Princeton Theological Seminary; founder, Scala Foundation), 
• Rev. Christopher Peschel (Pastor, Diocese of Fall River), 
• Rev. Msgr. Sal Pilato (Former Superintendent of Secondary Schools, Los Angeles Archdiocese) 
• Brother Owen Sadlier, OSF (Professor of Philosophy, Cathedral Seminary House of Formation, Diocese of Brooklyn) 
• Rev. Msgr. Joseph Schaedel (Pastor, Archdiocese of Indianapolis)
• Lincoln Snyder (President, National Catholic Educational Association) ,

How much? $600 (all-inclusive); $550 for registrations before May 31

Our seminar will include workshops dealing with the following topics:

• Conciliar and Papal Teaching on Catholic Education

• The History of Catholic Education in the United States

• The Priest’s Presence in the School Community (Students, Faculty, Administration, Parents)

• The Priest as the Public Relations Man of the School

• Financial Concerns

• Models of Governance and Best Practices

For further information: call 732-903-5213 or email fstravinskas@hotmail.com. 

To enroll: Alternatively, you can send checks to the amount of $600 should be made payable to Catholic Education Foundation. The address is Catholic Education Foundation, 601 Buhler Court, Pine Beach, New Jersey 08741. Include also your name, address, email, and phone number.

“The role of the priest in shaping the identity and mission of our Catholic schools is indispensable. This summer’s CEF conference is sure to give excellent guidance to our priests in carrying out this role with renewed dedication and wisdom.” 

Most Rev. James Massa , Rector, St. Joseph Seminary, New York

Catholic Education Foundation Seminar for Bishops, Priests and Seminarians, Florida, July 11th-14th, 2022

The Catholic Education Foundation invites bishops, priests, and seminarians to participate in an intensive and comprehensive three-day seminar entitled, The Role of the Priest in Today’s Catholic School.

It is for clergy who are pastors, parochial vicars, or those directly involved in the elementary or secondary school apostolate (or who wish to be) – as well as seminarians. The Catholic Education Foundation CEF believes that the viability of our Catholic schools is largely dependent on the support and involvement of our priests.

I attended as a speaker last year (and am pleased to have been invited back again). Putting aside my own presentation, the quality of which I am not qualified to comment on, I thought every speaker and the quality of discussion that each talk provoked last year was excellent. I strongly encourage men and women, priests and religious to attend.

The range of talks together presented an inspiring picture of what a Catholic school ought to be, and how to move towards that ideal based upon the solid experience of how it has been done already. What impressed me most was how there was no minimizing the strength and nature of the forces against authentic Catholic education, both from outside and within Catholic schools today.

The seminar takes place from 4:00 p.m., July 11 to 4:00 p.m., July 14, 2022, at Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center, North Palm Beach (a ten-minute ride from West Palm Beach Airport). The cost is $600 (all inclusive); $550 for registrations before May 31. Numbers are limited as this is intended as a seminar in which all participate in the discussion, not a large conference.

For further information: call the President of the CEF, Rev. Peter Stravinskas on 732-903-5213 or email him at fstravinskas@hotmail.com.

The focus of the conference is, as in past years, on the following topics:

• Conciliar and Papal Teaching on Catholic Education
• The History of Catholic Education in the United States
• The Priest’s Presence in the School Community (Students, Faculty, Administration, Parents)
• The Priest as the Public Relations Man of the School
• Financial Concerns
• Models of Governance and Best Practices

This year's speakers are:

Rev. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Ph.D., S.T.D. (President, CEF)

Michael Acquilano (Director, South Carolina Catholic Conference)

Sister Elizabeth Ann Allen, OP, Ed.D. (Director, Center for Catholic Education, Aquinas College, Nashville)

Thomas Carroll (Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Boston)

David Clayton (Provost, Pontifex University)

Rev. Sean Connolly (Parochial Vicar, Archdiocese of New York)

Most Rev. Thomas Daly (Bishop of Spokane; Chairman, USCCB Committee on Education)

Rev. Michael Davis (Pastor, Archdiocese of Miami)

Mary Pat Donoghue (Executive Director, Secretariat of Catholic Education, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)

Most Rev. Arthur Kennedy, Ph.D. (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus, Archdiocese of Boston)

Rev. James Kuroly, Ed.D. (President/Rector, Cathedral Prep, Brooklyn)

Sister Mary Elizabeth Merriam, OP (St. Michael the Archangel High School, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph)

Dr. Margaret Mooney-Suarez (Associate Professor, Princeton Theological Seminary; founder, Scala Foundation)

Rev. Christopher Peschel (Pastor, Diocese of Fall River)

Rev. Msgr. Sal Pilato (Former Superintendent of Secondary Schools, Los Angeles Archdiocese)

Brother Owen Sadlier, OSF (Professor of Philosophy, Cathedral Seminary House of Formation, Diocese of Brooklyn)

Rev. Msgr. Joseph Schaedel (Pastor, Archdiocese of Indianapolis)

Lincoln Snyder (President, National Catholic Educational Association)

The Catholic Education Foundation is an organization providing financial assistance to Catholic high school students and serving as a resource for heightening the Catholic identity of Catholic schools. As well as being President of the Catholic Education Foundation, Fr Stravinskas is the founder and superior of the Priestly Society of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman, a clerical association of the faithful, committed to Catholic education, liturgical renewal and the new evangelization.

Jules-Alexis Muenier, “The Catechism Lesson,” 1890 (photo: Public Domain)