The Role of the Priest in Today’s Catholic School

The Catholic Education Foundation invites bishops, priests and seminarians to participate in an intensive and comprehensive four-day seminar.

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 16 to 4:00 p.m., July 19, 2019 (with accommodations available a day earlier or later)

Where? Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey (a ten-minute ride from Newark International Airport)

The Team?

  • Rev. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Ph.D., S.T.D. (Executive Director, CEF)
  • Sr. Elizabeth Anne Allen, OP, Ed.D. (Director, Center for Catholic Education, Aquinas College, Nashville)
  • Gregory Dolan (Catholic Education Partners)
  • Mary Pat Donoghue (Executive Director, Secretariat of Catholic Education, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
  • Dr. Maureen Gillette (Dean, College of Education & Human Services, Seton Hall University)
  • Richard & Vera Hough (Catholic school parents)
  • Most Rev. Arthur Kennedy, Ph.D. (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus, Archdiocese of Boston)
  • Dr. Robert Lockwood (Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Metuchen)
  • Dr. Constance McCue (Director, Catholic School Leadership Program, Seton Hall University)
  • Rev. Dennis McManus, Ph.D. (Professor of Systematic Theology, Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland)
  • Mother Mary Mark Orsolak, SCMC (Holy Family Academy, Baltic, Connecticut)
  • Rev. Christopher Peschel (Administrator, St. John the Evangelist Church, Attleboro, Massachusetts)
  • Rev. Msgr. Sabato Pilato (Former Superintendent of Secondary Schools, Archdiocese of Los Angeles; Pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, Gardena, California)
  • Br. Owen Sadlier, OSF (Professor of Philosophy, Immaculate Conception Seminary, Douglaston, New York)
  • Rev. Msgr. Joseph Schaedel (Pastor, St. Luke the Evangelist, Indianapolis)
  • Michael VanHecke (Headmaster, St. Augustine Academy, Ventura, California; President, Institute for Catholic Liberal Education)
  • Lt. Christopher York (Professor of Criminal Justice, Monmouth University & Brookdale Community College)

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

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

(Graduate credit available from Seton Hall University)

For further information: call 732-914-1222 or email [email protected].


Participation limited to 35. Checks in the amount of $600 should be made payable to: Catholic Education Foundation, 601 Buhler Court, Pine Beach, New Jersey 08741. Please include your name, address, phone and email address and indicate that you’re registering for the July seminar.

“This is a most needed initiative, and I hope you obtain a healthy response from the dioceses.”
Cardinal Sean O’Malley,
CEF board member, Archbishop of Boston

“The role of priests in catholic schools is crucial and now more than ever before. There are many who can teach, many who can coach, many who can administer, but only the priest can bring God physically into the school…a Catholic school with no Mass and no confession is as good as dead.”
Alvaro DeVicente, Headmaster, The Heights

“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, Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn