The Faith in Education Endowment is a financial and spiritual commitment to help our Diocese of Birmingham Catholic Schools advance the mission of Catholic education for years to come. Faith in Education funds can assist schools from the diocesan level to address priority needs or to further programming in areas that may be outside the established school budget or that occur due to an unplanned need.

Currently, this advancement is achieved through grant awards to individual schools with an application process that occurs during the summer. The Faith in Education Grant Review Committee consisting of the superintendent of schools, the chief financial officer, the director of development and stewardship, and representation from clergy and from the Diocesan Advisory Council for Catholic Education reviews the applications and makes award decisions using a standardized rubric.

Fundraising for the endowment takes place year-round. During the 2023-2024 year, the Catholic Schools Office initiated a successful match challenge, surpassing its fundraising goal. The generous contributions made to this match challenge played a significant role in the grant awards for 2024.

The 2024 Faith in Education grant awards were announced on Sept. 13 at the annual Catholic Schools Office Formation Day. Margaret Dubose, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Birmingham, presented seven principals with awards for their schools. 

Of the seven, Holy Spirit Catholic School in Tuscaloosa received a Faith in Education grant to implement a Theology of the Body program for middle and high school students. The school will utilize the Ruah Woods Press Rooted and Called to Be More curriculum in middle and high school courses. Through this curriculum, students will study what it means to be human in relationship with God and other humans, focusing on what it means to be created in the image of God and our identity as His sons and daughters. The high school’s principal, Johnathan Loper accepted the award. 

John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham was also chosen. The school was awarded a Faith in Education grant titled "Champions of Safety," aimed at enhancing safety and security measures for both students and staff. The grant will fund a security assessment of the school's physical infrastructure through NSide, as well as two essential safety training sessions to equip staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond effectively to emergencies. This initiative will help John Carroll maintain a safe environment for its community. Principal Ronald Steele accepted the award.

The next school to benefit was Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School in Homewood. It was granted support for two projects: "Healthy Hallways," proposed by teachers Dawn Philbin and Olivia DiChiara, which will benefit students in kindergarten through 2nd grade, and "STEAM: An Innovative Approach to Learning," submitted by teacher Jennifer Clark, serving students across all grades. The Healthy Hallways initiative aims to promote early learning in math, literacy, and motor skills while fostering self-regulation and coping skills through the installation of a sensory path in the lower grade hallway. The STEAM project will expand the school's existing STEAM Lab by adding an interactive classroom equipped with STEAM materials, flexible seating, and workspaces. Mary Jane Dorn, principal, accepted the award.

The fourth school to receive a grant was Prince of Peace Catholic School in Hoover. The Faith in Education grant awarded to Prince of Peace will facilitate the training and implementation of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. This Montessori-based religious formation program is designed for children aged 3 to 12, focusing on nurturing their relationship with God through scripture, liturgy, and Catholic traditions. The grant will enable the establishment of a Level I atrium at the school. The school’s principal, Connie Angstadt accepted the award.

St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Birmingham also received a grant. The finds will go to hire a part-time reading interventionist to support students in kindergarten through 3rd grade who require additional assistance with reading. This interventionist will aid teachers in their small group reading instruction, strengthening the school's rigorous phonics program based on the science of reading. Principal Mary Paige Griffin accepted the award.

Next to receive an award was St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Madison. The Faith in Education grant will go to enhance its STEM program through the incorporation of 3D printing technology and programming. Proposed by the assistant principal Brandi Lumley, the grant outlines plans to integrate 3D printing into the school's elective offerings for middle school students, advancing their skills in engineering, math, and design while producing tangible products to address various needs within the school. Sherry Lewis, the school’s principal, accepted the award.

The seventh school to receive an award was St. Joseph Regional Catholic School in Florence. The Faith in Education grant will go to introduce Makerspace STEM classroom carts and bins for students in kindergarten through 5th grade. The addition of these Makerspace materials will align the lower elementary science curriculum with the hands-on, rigorous approach employed in the upper grades. The Makerspace curriculum will enhance students' knowledge in science, math, technology, and engineering while integrating science journaling. Principal Courtney Magee accepted the award.

To support diocesan schools through contribution to the Faith in Education endowment, please visit https://bhmdiocese.org/faith-in-education-endowment.