We are grateful for the tools that have made this possible, especially the dedication of parents, pastors, and parishes. The CHOOSE Act, the Alabama Accountability Act, and the generosity of Scholarship Granting Organizations are helping more families access the gift of a Catholic education. These measures have opened doors for students who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to experience the joy of learning in an environment rooted in Gospel values. In addition, benefactors throughout the diocese are stepping forward with extraordinary generosity, helping us bolster the Faith in Education Foundation, a new source of grants and support for our Catholic schools. This collaboration between faithful stewards, educators, and families is bearing great fruit for our children and for the Church.

Signs of renewal abound. At John Carroll Catholic High School, our students and families are rallying around a much-needed revitalization of the athletic facilities, but it is not only the fields that are being renewed — it is the spirit of the community itself. Athletics, academics, and faith formation are coming together in a holistic vision that seeks to form the heart, mind, body, and soul in the image of Christ. Catholic education, at its best, forms the whole person, preparing young men and women not only for college and career, but for discipleship and leadership in the Church and in society.

This same spirit of growth is inspiring new beginnings. We celebrate the opening of St. Thomas Catholic School in Montevallo, serving a growing and vibrant community. And as our population continues to expand in the Tennessee Valley, we look forward, with hope, to opening another new Catholic school there in the near future. These developments remind us that Catholic education is not a luxury — it is a mission. It is our response to Christ’s enduring command to “teach all nations,” forming hearts that know and love the Lord.

Pope Francis reminds us that “education is an act of hope,” because it “invites us to participate in the shared project of building the future.” (Address to the Congregation for Catholic Education, 2021) That is exactly what we are doing in our schools. We are building the future with hope, confidence, and joy. More than a set of institutions, our Catholic schools are communities of encounter — places where faith is lived, reason is sharpened, and young minds are anchored in truth.

Pope Leo XIII, the great advocate of Catholic education, wrote that “the school is the place where the seeds of virtue are sown.” Those seeds are being planted anew in our diocese today. We are blessed with dedicated teachers, administrators, and pastors who serve with passion and faith. Our parents and parishioners continue to be the lifeblood of this mission, ensuring that every child can grow in wisdom and grace before God.

The momentum we are seeing is not accidental. It is the fruit of faith, vision, and collaboration. It is a testament to what can happen when the Church, families, and communities work together with a shared purpose.

As bishop, I could not be more hopeful about the future of Catholic education in the Diocese of Birmingham. Our superintendent, Margaret Dubose, is galvanizing the enthusiasm and energy to promote excellence in every aspect of our Catholic schools. Every day, our schools are alive with steadfast faith and wonder about the world around us. Our schools are preparing a new generation to take their rightful place in the Church and the world with hearts that love, minds that think critically, and souls that seek God above all things and that know the power of belonging to Christ.

May the Lord, Who is the source of all wisdom, continue to bless our students, teachers, and benefactors, and may our Catholic schools remain, for generations to come, anchors of hope that do not disappoint.

“To educate is to give hope, to sow the future.” — Pope Francis

“Let every school be a sanctuary of truth and virtue.” — Pope Leo XIII

Finally, thank you for your prayers for and support of this essential mission at the heart of our Church here in central and northern Alabama!