Campaign Endowments Will Support Teachers, Catechists

By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 2/20/03)

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde has designated $4.5 million of the diocesan Capital Campaign be invested in an endowment to assist teachers and catechists in order to better serve the children of the diocese.

Through the $2.5 million Faculty Development Endowment, the diocese will offer teachers the opportunity to continue their education in a number of ways, so that they will be better prepared to serve their students.

Dr. Timothy McNiff, diocesan superintendent of schools, said the revenue from this endowment will serve to "continue and enhance" summer seminars, periodic workshops, scholarships and the annual Diocesan Education Institute.

Summer seminars are held throughout the diocese each year. About 300-350 teachers participate in the sessions. Fourteen seminars were held last year and McNiff hopes to be able to add more programs in coming summers as the funds become available.

The annual Diocesan Education Institute brings all the teachers of the diocese together one day every fall for fellowship and small seminars. McNiff hopes that the endowment will allow the Office of Catholic Schools the opportunity to provide "top-notch" speakers for the teachers at this event.

The diocese offers financial scholarships to teachers pursuing a master’s degree in administration at Marymount University. More teachers will be able to benefit from this program once the endowment is established.

Currently all of these programs are worked into the budget, with the exception of the summer seminars that are partially funded by the Catholic Business Network recognition dinner.

The Tuition Assistance Program and the faculty endowment funds account for 17 percent of Bishop Loverde’s $75 million campaign goal.

Although over 17,000 students are being served by teachers at diocesan schools, there are another 35,000 who receive their religious education from volunteers through their parish religious education programs.

The "Rooted in Faith — Forward in Hope" campaign will allow the diocesan Office of Catechetics to establish a $2 million endowment to help directors of religious education and catechists.

A tuition assistance program will be initiated to assist directors of religious education, and potential directors, who want to pursue graduate and doctorate degrees.

"The catechist needs to be formed in order to pass on Church teaching. We need to offer opportunities for formation in a more ordered and systematic way," said Father Paul deLadurantaye, diocesan secretary for religious education.

Through this endowment, the Office of Catechetics plans to enhance the distance learning program they use through the Catholic Distance University, the master catechists program, so it can provide regional training in each of the diocese’s 21 counties. Eventually, Father deLadurantaye wants to be able to establish a video conference system to facilitate easier communication with parish DREs located farther from the Chancery.

"We need to enhance the quality of catechesis given at parishes and remain faithful to what the Church teaches," said Father deLadurantaye. "People tend to overlook parish programs because they are not as visible an entity as schools. Anything that the Office of Catechetics can do to enhance teachers and catechists will be a great benefit from the Capital Campaign."

Copyright ©2003 Arlington Catholic Herald.  All rights reserved.