The purpose of the strategic plan is to strengthen the system of elementary Catholic education to keep irresistibly Catholic, academically excellent, operationally sound and geographically accessible schools where demand exists.
It aims to build on the strong history and success of Catholic education by ensuring an approach of excellence and continuous improvement. It endeavors to create pathways to the future that encourage communities to collaborate and enable schools to innovate in order to sustain excellence in mission. The plan consists of 27 strategic goals in six critical areas of focus.
Download the Keeping the Faith Plan | Download 2-Page Summary
Watch this highlight video for our education initiative. To watch the comprehensive overview video click here.
Bishop Malesic, Fr. John Betters and Frank O'Linn have written letters to the faithful regarding the Keeping the Faith initiative.
For 175 years, the Diocese of Cleveland has had a long and rich history of vital service to the Catholic faithful and the wider community of Northeast Ohio. Recent decades have brought challenges to the Catholic education sector, particularly affecting parish elementary schools, which have declined significantly both in the number of students and schools serving the elementary grades.
From the start of the system through most of the 20th century, most students were taught primarily by religious sisters, whether in religious order schools, or in parish schools that were led and staffed by religious orders or congregations at the invitation of the pastors.
The Keeping the Faith planning process seeks to build on the rich history and tradition of excellence and faith formation. Its purpose is to strengthen the system of elementary Catholic education in order to keep irresistibly Catholic, academically excellent, operationally sound and geographically accessible schools available across the diocese where demand exists.
The task force is made up of a diverse group of 49 individuals, plus 9 Diocesan staff liaisons, including 22 members who are either current or past parents of Catholic school pupils (37%), 15 clergy and religious (26%), 15 current and past Catholic school employees (26%), and 12 business and nonprofit leaders (21%).
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