Catholic Schools Week Celebration Begins

By Jennifer Miele
Chief Communications Officer

Greensburg — Catholic school enrollment in the Diocese of Greensburg is up 20% from 2019, or nearly 350 students. The news will be celebrated by students, faculty and staff during Catholic Schools Week Jan. 30-Feb. 5.

Dr. Maureen Marsteller, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, attributes that growth to three major factors: unprecedented tuition assistance opportunities, the ability of Catholic schools to maintain in-person instruction throughout COVID-19 and the excellent culture of faith-based academic instruction provided at each of the 12 schools throughout the Diocese.

“In our Catholic schools, this invisible bond with Jesus is made visible on a daily basis because we invite Him to hold our hand as we pray and study our faith. Our faculty and staff make each child feel safe and loved,” Marsteller said.

Donors from our community have decided to make long-term investments in our Catholic schools, assisting with both tuition assistance and capital improvements.

An anonymous donor has agreed to continue funding of the St. Pope John Paul II Tuition Opportunity Partnership for an additional five years.

With this donation, alongside new corporate and individual donors, nearly $20 million in tuition assistance is expected to be available to Catholic school students in the Diocese of Greensburg over the next five years.

Capital project donations were gifted totaling more than $300,000 from Lindy Paving, Golden Triangle Construction and Arch Masonry at many of the school campuses.

The St. Pope John Paul II Tuition
Opportunity Partnership is a ground-breaking scholarship opportunity announced July 1, 2020, by the Diocese, thanks to an anonymous donor who is committed to fortifying Catholic education in Western Pennsylvania. In 2021, more than 900 students benefited from the tuition assistance totaling nearly $2.7 million. In 2020, available monies offset the cost of Catholic education for nearly 250 students who were new to the Catholic school system.

The anonymous donor has agreed to extend the TOP Student program for an additional five years, with the help of new donors including Jay W. Cleveland Jr., President and CEO of Cleveland Brothers. More than 100 other businesses and individuals have also committed to the Pennsylvania Educational Income Tax Credit program, bringing the five-year outlook for tuition assistance to approximately $20 million.

“These are major opportunities for our Catholic schools, made possible by community-minded individuals who understand the impact that Catholic education can have in a person’s life,” Bishop Larry J. Kulick said. “We are grateful for their commitment to our schools and families through these partnerships.”

The qualifications to becoming a TOP Student include the following:

  • Student must demonstrate commitment to and enthusiasm for learning.
  • Student/family must be registered members of a faith community.
  • Student must demonstrate service to that faith community.
  • Parent/guardian must demonstrate some financial commitment toward the cost of education.

This information is also available at CatholicSchoolsGuide.org or by calling 724-552-2565.

 

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