May 20, 2009

Building Catholic culture: schools, Respect Life ministries funded by ACA

By John Gleason

Providing quality academics informed by the Catholic faith and fostering a culture of life through information and awareness are two of the nearly 40 archdiocesan ministries which benefit from the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal.

The Catholic Schools and the Respect Life offices of the Denver Archdiocese are both committed to education.

The Catholic Schools Office oversees the programs necessary to pastors and principals for carrying out the ministry of Catholic education.  A particular emphasis is placed on faith formation in each school by cultivation of love for Jesus Christ, fidelity to his Church, commitment to the dignity of the human person, service to others and evangelization.

Superintendent of Schools Richard Thompson said funds from the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal are vital.

“It basically funds our office and expenses,” he said.  “Our office serves 39 elementary schools with 10,000 students and 1,000 teachers at schools reaching from Sterling to Glenwood Springs; everything from suburban, rural and inner city.  It’s a real mix.”

The Office of Catholic Schools offers support, leadership and recommendations that knit the parochial school community together while also helping the schools to maintain, nurture and cultivate their individual identity.

“We oversee the accreditation process and financial analysis,” Thompson said.   “At the same time, we convey archdiocesan policies that help provide safety, personnel and legal guidelines for the schools.”

Catholic schools are in the same economic situation as is the rest of the country.

“The Catholic school system is facing the same thing that everyone from Microsoft to the Salvation Army is facing,” Thompson said. “You see General Motors closing dealerships, Chrysler declaring bankruptcy. This downturn affects all of education across the United States, which is why our office strives to be good stewards of our limited resources.”

People value Catholic education and continue to turn to the largest private school system in the state.  Therefore, Thompson said he hopes the faithful will continue to open their hearts and support the ACA campaign.

“In my opinion, someone contributing to the ACA is, in essence, investing in the entire community of our Catholic schools,” Thompson said. “It’s a broad reach for the investment dollar.”

The Respect Life Office acts on behalf of the Church in reaffirming that human life is a gift of God to be protected from the moment of conception to natural death.  Through information and education, outreach and public policy formulation and awareness, the office seeks to build a culture of life, said director Mimi Eckstein.

“Because of ACA funding, our ministry runs successful programs and participates in events that have an impact on a state and federal level,” she said.  “Last year we participated in the national postcard campaign.  More than 33 million cards were sent to Congress urging the defeat of the Freedom of Choice Act, which would have allowed abortion to become an entitlement.  The Archdiocese of Denver sent 300,000 postcards in English to the two Colorado senators and appropriate congressional representatives and another 90,000 in Spanish.  The campaign has made a difference in Washington as the bills were referred to committee without further action.”

Other projects the Respect Life Office is a part of are the upcoming establishment of a Gabriel House, which will minister to pregnant mothers in need, as well as Project Rachel, a post-abortion ministry for those seeking healing and reconciliation with the Church. 

“We’re working with the Office of Hispanic Ministry to coordinate the Spanish- language Pro-life Congress coming up on June 13 at the John Paul II Center,” Eckstein said.

There are also the ongoing prayer vigils at Planned Parenthood through the summer and in October we’re planning for the annual Gospel of Life Conference.  These are all things we can do thanks to the generosity of people to the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal.”

Eckstein said that those wishing more information on any of the Respect Life events coming up can call 303-715-3205.