UPDATE: STEWARDSHIP FOR SAINTS & SCHOLARS CAMPAIGN | WHY CATHOLIC EDUCATION IS WORTHY OF INVESTMENT: As the Diocese of Lansing enters the final wave of the Stewardship for Saints & Scholars campaign, one question naturally arises: why does Catholic education deserve such a significant investment? The answer is clear when we look at both the numbers and the impact Catholic schools have on the faith and formation of young people.
Today, the Diocese of Lansing is blessed with 36 Catholic schools — including 28 parochial schools, 4 diocesan high schools, and 4 independent Catholic schools — serving more than 8,400 students from preschool through twelfth grade. Guiding these students are over 600 teachers and administrators, men and women dedicated to integrating both academic excellence and the Catholic faith in every classroom.
This mission is vital because research shows that many young people begin drifting away from the Church around the age of 13, often feeling pressured to choose science over faith. Yet, as Pope Saint John Paul II reminds us, the Catholic intellectual tradition does not divide faith and reason — it unites them. In Catholic schools, students discover that the pursuit of knowledge is not in opposition to faith, but rather a pathway toward God’s Truth, beauty, and goodness. The long-term fruits of Catholic education are striking:
* Millennial Catholic school graduates are seven times more likely to attend Mass regularly than their peers.
* They are six times more likely to consider the priesthood and three times more likely to consider religious life.
* From 2020-2023, more than 200 elementary students in our diocesan schools— with their parents’ consent — have entered the Catholic Church through the sacraments.
These outcomes remind us that Catholic schools are not only places of learning but also communities of evangelization, where faith takes root and grows strong. They prepare young people not only for college and careers but for a lifelong relationship with Christ and His Church.
That is why the Stewardship for Saints & Scholars campaign matters so deeply. By investing in teachers, increasing tuition assistance, and ensuring our schools remain accessible to every family, we are making sure that Catholic education continues to thrive across mid-Michigan. We are not just building stronger schools—we are forming future saints.
As we begin the final wave of this campaign, we invite every parishioner to prayerfully consider joining in this effort. Together, we can ensure that Catholic schools remain a source of faith, formation, and hope for generations to come.
To learn more about the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars or to make a pledge online, click here: https://stewardshipforsaintsandscholars.com/
