Catholic education has been called “an outstanding apostolate of hope.” It's an apt description of the Catholic schools that are a significant asset in the greater Erie community.

Providing a Catholic education is an enormous undertaking involving trained and dedicated professionals as well as parents who understand the value of such an investment in their children's lives. The message seems to be getting through to students: those graduating from Catholic high schools in Erie County have a 98.7 percent college placement rate.

The numbers are considerable: More than 8,000 students are being educated in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Erie with the help of nearly $2 million in financial aid each year. Another 13,000 attend religious education classes through their parishes. A host of programs and events—including athletics, scouts, rallies, retreats and training—are designed to nourish the faith, provide connections and build the character of youth and young adults.

But for the Catholic Church, it's about much more than numbers and programming. Pope Francis puts it this way:

“The main element in school is learning to be magnanimous. This means having a big heart, having a greatness of soul. It means having grand ideals, the desire to achieve great things in response to what God asks of us and, precisely because of this, doing everyday things—all our daily actions, commitments, and meetings with people—well. [It means] doing the little everyday things with a big heart that is open to God and to others.”Catholic education has been called “an outstanding apostolate of hope.” It's an apt description of the Catholic schools that are a significant asset in the greater Erie community.

Providing a Catholic education is an enormous undertaking involving trained and dedicated professionals as well as parents who understand the value of such an investment in their children's lives. The message seems to be getting through to students: those graduating from Catholic high schools in Erie County have a 98.7 percent college placement rate.

The numbers are considerable: More than 8,000 students are being educated in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Erie with the help of nearly $2 million in financial aid each year. Another 13,000 attend religious education classes through their parishes. A host of programs and events—including athletics, scouts, rallies, retreats and training—are designed to nourish the faith, provide connections and build the character of youth and young adults.

But for the Catholic Church, it's about much more than numbers and programming. Pope Francis puts it this way:

“The main element in school is learning to be magnanimous. This means having a big heart, having a greatness of soul. It means having grand ideals, the desire to achieve great things in response to what God asks of us and, precisely because of this, doing everyday things—all our daily actions, commitments, and meetings with people—well. [It means] doing the little everyday things with a big heart that is open to God and to others.”