Values for a Lifetime

I announced to the school principals earlier today that we will be adding a new position of Coordinator of Latino Outreach for Catholic Schools to our office for the 2011-2012 school year. I am extremely excited about this position. Through this individual, I am hopeful that we will be better able to reach out to the growing Latino population in the Archdiocese. The position is meant to represent a pilot program for the first year. As such, the Coordinator will work solely with Catholic elementary schools within the boundaries of the Cincinnati Public Schools. However, it is my sincere hope that this position will ultimately grow to serve all Catholic elementary and secondary schools.

The Sisters of Charity (SC) Ministry Foundation awarded a grant to support the Coordinator of Latino Outreach for Catholic Schools. SC Ministry Foundation promotes the mission and ministry of the Sisters of Charity. Additional funding was given by the Catholic Inner City Schools Education (CISE) Fund.

The Latino population is a vital part of the future of our church. Although the numbers of Latinos is exploding nationally, only 3% of Latino families are enrolled in Catholic schools. There are many reasons for this low figure. Studies indicate that many Latino families believe that Catholic schools only serve a wealthy elite. Others fear discrimination, or are limited by linguistic barriers. Our new Coordinator of Latino Outreach will help to bridge cultural and language barriers in the designated schools. He or she will help to fulfill our mission to welcome all families, regardless of their background.

In many ways, I see strong similarities between the current Latino population and the European immigrant populations of the past. Our Catholic schools were built by the Irish, Italian, German, Polish, and other immigrant communities in the late 19th/early 20th centuries. The Church was able to overcome cultural and linguistic barriers, and ensure that children of these populations were firmly raised in the Catholic faith. Today, our schools have had remarkably little success at enrolling Latino families, many of whom are recent immigrants to our country. Yet our schools must be positioned to serve the needs of this population, just as we educated European immigrants in bygone years.

Christ calls us to educate all people. As we search for the best candidate to become our Coordinator of Latino Outreach for Catholic Schools, I am filled with hopeful expectation. God continues to bless our schools, and provides ways for us to even better meet the needs of our people.