Catholic schools: nurturing spiritual growth and guiding students through life
Faith and community will be the central focus as Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Newark join Catholic schools nationwide in celebrating Catholic Schools Week 2026 from Jan. 26 through Feb. 1. This annual celebration highlights the important role of Catholic schools in the Church’s evangelizing mission.
The Archdiocese of Newark is home to 64 Catholic schools. These schools educate over 21,000 students in pre-kindergarten to grade 12. While over two-thirds of the students are Catholic, our schools also welcome students of different faiths, embracing the opportunity to help students grow in their understanding of the Catholic faith.
Catholic school education has long been recognized for its commitment to academic excellence; however, its defining characteristic is that it is centered in the person of Jesus Christ and gives witness to the gospel message.
Nurturing the soul
At the heart of Catholic education is the nurturing of each student’s spiritual growth, equipping them with knowledge but also anchoring them in religious values to help them navigate the complexities, challenges, and joys of life.
Daily prayer, regular participation in the sacraments, reflection on the Gospel, and service to others are woven into the fabric of school life. These practices invite students to experience God’s presence and love in tangible ways, helping them to develop a personal relationship with Christ.
A Catholic school education seeks to instill in students a moral compass that will guide them throughout their lives. The teachings of the Church, rooted in Scripture and Tradition, offer students clear principles for discerning right from wrong and for acting with integrity and compassion.
As Pope Benedict XVI said in his address to Catholic educators in 2008:
“First and foremost, every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God who reveals his transforming love and truth in Jesus Christ. This relationship elicits a desire to grow in the knowledge and understanding of Christ and his teaching. In this way, those who meet him are drawn by the very power of the Gospel to lead a new life characterized by all that is beautiful, good, and true; a life of Christian witness nurtured and strengthened within the community of our Lord’s disciples, the Church.”
Faith formation does not happen in isolation but is encouraged and nurtured by faculty and staff who strive to live the Gospel message in word and deed. The important work of our archdiocesan schools is guided by dedicated school administrators who have answered the call to this vital ministry. They lead the hundreds of women and men who serve in our Catholic schools as teachers, counselors, deans, chaplains, administrative assistants, custodians, aides, coaches, and in many other roles.
Encountering Jesus Christ
These individuals help facilitate the encounter with the person of Jesus Christ that is at the heart of Catholic school education. This encounter is transformative, helping students to see the world through the eyes of faith and to make choices that reflect Christian values.
Students are encouraged to reflect on their actions, to take responsibility for their choices, and to consider the needs of others. Service to the community, a cornerstone of Catholic education, provides students with real-world opportunities to practice compassion and justice.
The spiritual and moral formation offered by Catholic schools does not end at graduation. Rather, it equips students with the tools they need to navigate an ever-changing world with confidence, hope, and purpose throughout their lives. Catholic school education is more than just a path to academic achievement; it is a journey of spiritual formation that shapes hearts, minds, and souls.
This holistic approach to education prepares young people to become compassionate, ethical, and faith-filled individuals — ready to make a positive difference in the world as they follow Jesus, who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Light.”
To learn more about Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Newark, click HERE.
Barbara Dolan is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Newark. Father Stephen Fichter, Ph.D., is the Episcopal Vicar of Education for the archdiocese.
Featured image: Kindergarteners at Academy of St. Joseph of the Palisades in West New York, NJ, display paper candle art they created for All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo from Academy of St. Joseph of the Palisades Facebook page)
