Catholic Education

Welcome to the Catholic Education website

We are deeply committed to supporting the proclamation of the Gospel through our primary and secondary Catholic Schools, Catholic higher education, campus ministry, certification for ecclesial ministry, and support of children and parents through advocacy and public policy in our Nation's Capital.

We recall the statement made by the Second Vatican Council, "Holy Mother Church must be concerned with the whole of man's life, even the secular part of it insofar as it has a bearing on his heavenly calling. Therefore she has a role in the progress and development of education." (Gravissimum Educationis, Preface) Education remains critically important in the formation of the human person by teaching how to live well now so as to be able to live with God for all eternity.

Our schools serve both the faith community and society by educating children, young people and adults to contribute to the common good by becoming active and caring members of the communities, cities, and nation in which they live. As you explore this web site, we ask for your support of Catholic education through prayer and action on the school, parish and national levels.

What is the Secretariat of Catholic Education?

The Secretariat of Catholic Education is the team of staff members that assists the Committee on Catholic Education and the Subcommittee on Certification for Ecclesial Ministry and Service in fulfilling their service to the apostolate of Catholic education nation-wide. The Committee and Subcommittee attend to issues surrounding K-12 Catholic schools, Catholic higher education and campus ministry, public policy affecting Catholic schools, and the standards by which lay people serve and offer faith formation within the Church.

Mandate and Goals for the Committee

The committee provides guidance for the educational mission of the Church in the United States in all its institutional settings. The Committee on Catholic Education guides, directs, and coordinates this task, working closely with the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis. The scope of the committee’s work includes Catholic elementary and secondary schools, Catholic colleges and universities, and college campus ministry. The committee advocates for federal public policies in education that are consistent with Catholic values and that uphold parental rights and responsibilities regarding education.

This mandate includes the following areas of responsibility:

1. Catholic primary and secondary schools,
2. Federal advocacy on private school policy issues,
3. Catholic higher education, Ex corde Ecclesiae, especially relations with bishops and presidents,
4. Campus ministry, 
5. Development of certification and standards for lay ecclesial ministry at the diocesan level.

KEY MISSION RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Encouraging and supporting efforts in Catholic education by fostering the distribution and implementation of both universal Church documents on education as well as related documents developed by the bishops of the United States 
2. Supporting educational efforts in the Church in the United States by developing policies, guidelines, and resources for use by bishops in their dioceses
3. Providing consultation on educational issues when requested, including advising and representing the bishops in Catholic schools and universities
4. Collaborating with the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis regarding evangelization and catechesis in Catholic schools and universities
5. Providing support and advocacy in federal public policy on behalf of Catholic educational institutions from pre-school through high school levels
6. Embodying the concerns and priorities of the bishops of the United States for ministry formation and certification for specialized ecclesial ministries through the work of the subcommittee for Certification for Ecclesial Ministry and Service
7. Bringing to Catholic education the perspectives and concerns of other cultures and people with special pastoral needs through collaboration with other committees/offices

KEY MISSION RELATIONSHIPS

1. With bishops and diocesan offices
2. With related committees and offices of the USCCB
3. With national educational organizations and associations
4. With governmental and legislative bodies
5. With advisory bodies to the Committee
6. With the Holy See and other episcopal conferences