Issuu

JANUARY 2026

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK January 25-31, 2026

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

schools.sfarch.org

JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Archbishop: “Cor ad cor loquitur” – “Heart speaks to heart” – in Catholic schools

04 06 08

Parish ministries: Impacting lives Catholic quiz: How well do you know the Catholic faith?

Tradition and Innovation: Christ is all and in all - Reflections on a first year of listening, learning and leading together

Called to relationship: “He holds all things together” – The integration of faith and reason in Catholic schools

Charting a course: Drawing new maps of hope for Catholic education – Pope Leo XIV reflects on the future of Catholic education 60 years after Vatican II

Holy example: “Cor ad cor loquitur” Pope Leo XIV, St. John Henry Newman and the renewal of Catholic Education

Catholic talent project: St. Thomas More Fellowship – Finding and forming Catholic educators amid a teacher shortage

26 30 34

Inclusion: Second-year developments at St. Brigid Academy Blessings and successes: Liturgical renewal in Catholic education

Academic excellence: Applause for our “Blue Ribbon” school - École Notre Dame Des Victoires

PUBLISHER

Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone CSF MAGAZINE EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Fr. Patrick Summerhays Vicar General & Moderator of the Curia Peter Marlow (415) 614-5636 Communications

Ryan Mayer, Catholic Identity Assessment & Formation Valerie Schmalz, Human Life & Dignity Rod Linhares, Mission Advancement Mary Powers (415) 614-5638 Communications LEAD WRITER

Christina Gray

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Student corner: Learning about our patron saint Local news International news Upcoming events: Save the dates! Come out and join us

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Phillip Monares (415) 614-5644 Diana Powell (415) 614-5576 COPY EDITOR

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CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

ARCHBISHOP

“Cor ad cor loquitur” – “Heart speaks to heart” – in Catholic schools O BY ARCHBISHOP SALVATORE JOSEPH CORDILEONE

n the solemnity of All Saints this past Nov. 1, the Church witnessed a moment of quiet but profound significance. Before tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV officially declared St. John Henry Newman the 38th doctor of the Church and named him co-patron of education alongside St. Thomas Aquinas. In this context, the title “doctor” means “teacher” and is bestowed on a saint whose life and writings have shaped the Church’s understanding of truth in an enduring way. Newman now stands among doctors such as St. Augustine, St. Jerome, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Thérèse of Lisieux – saints whose wisdom and witness have instructed Christian hearts for centuries.

WHY NEWMAN, AND WHY NOW? The Holy Father’s decision to declare Newman a doctor and co-patron of education is more than an honorific gesture; it is a reminder of the very heart of Catholic education and a call to renewal. Newman’s episcopal motto, “Cor ad cor loquitur” – “heart speaks to heart” – offers a key to understanding this moment. What, then, are the implications of “Cor ad cor loquitur” – heart speaking to heart – for our Catholic schools today? FIRST, CATHOLIC EDUCATION IS, AT ITS HEART, PERSONAL. While Catholic schools rightly take pride in rigorous academics and high standards, Newman insists that the heart of education is more personal. It unfolds in the relationship between teacher and student, in the trust and partnership between school and family, and in the quiet work of accompaniment. True education, Newman teaches, cannot be automated, reduced to utility or replaced by even the most sophisticated forms of

artificial intelligence. It finds its incarnation in relationship – in heart speaking to heart. Pope Leo captured this beautifully in his homily that morning in St. Peter’s Square: “At the heart of the educational journey, we do not find abstract individuals but real people… We are called to form people, so that they may shine like stars in their full dignity.” SECOND, CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ARE PLACES OF ENCOUNTER. They evangelize first by cultivating cultures in which young people experience themselves as known, loved and taken seriously. The Gospel becomes credible when it comes through the witness of adults who care for students and who model integrity, virtue and fidelity. Faith is transmitted by witness before it is transmitted by words. “Heart speaks to heart” means that all truth, including the truths of the faith, reaches young people most powerfully when it is embodied – when the truths of the Gospel take flesh in the adults who teach, coach, mentor and accompany them. A school’s greatest strength is faithful teachers who help students incline the ear of their hearts to recognize the voice of God – in prayer, in creation and in the life of the Church. The Catholic identity of a school is revealed not only through curriculum, but through the witness of teachers who live the faith with integrity – heart speaking to heart. As Newman wrote, “The heart is commonly reached, not through the reason, but through the imagination… Persons influence us, voices melt us, looks subdue us, deeds inflame us” (“The Tamworth Reading Room,” 1841). FINALLY, WE MUST RESIST PURELY UTILITARIAN MEASURES OF SUCCESS. Newman reminds us that true education forms the whole person. He resisted the reduction of schooling to mere skill acquisition JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Photo by Mary Powers

Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone visits students of St. Anselm School in Marin Country with Father Gabriel T. Wankar, pastor.

If the heart is at stake, then education must shape not only the intellect, but imagination, conscience and the call to holiness. Catholic schools aim not only at what students know or can do, but at who God is calling them to become.” or workforce preparation. A Catholic school’s worth cannot be reduced to test scores, rankings or college admissions. Even more importantly, neither can we reduce the dignity of the student to these same reductive measures. If the heart is at stake, then education must shape not only the intellect but imagination, conscience and the call to holiness. Catholic schools aim not only at what students know or can do, but at who God is calling them to become. CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

Our Catholic schools are a great treasure of the Church and of our archdiocese! As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, join me in praying for our Catholic schools, their students and their families. May St. John Henry Newman’s vision of Catholic education – of heart speaking to heart – remind us that every classroom, playground and prayer is a place where the heart of Christ speaks to each young person through the love of those who teach them. ■

PARISH M I N ISTRI ES

Impacting lives

Our parishes impact lives in countless ways through vibrant, innovative outreach ministries. As part of our ongoing series highlighting these efforts, in this issue we feature St. Dominic and St. Gabriel parishes in San Francisco. Knowing that all our parishes make a profound difference in their communities – and beyond – should be a tremendous source of inspiration and pride for all of us in the archdiocese.

ST. DOMINIC - FOOD PANTRY St Dominic’s has partnered with the SF/Marin Food Bank for the last nine years in operating a food pantry. Twenty parish volunteers serve approximately 150 people every Monday. Our parish hall is transformed into a farmers market where people who have signed up with the food bank shop for free. The food bank ensures that fresh produce and protein are always available. We begin each session with a short “huddle” in which each volunteer says his or her name, we listen to a

THE ST. GABRIEL SODALITY OF OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL The St. Gabriel sodality is a wonderful group of women of all ages who pray, work and dedicate their time, energy and efforts to the liturgical needs of their beloved St. Gabriel. The mission of the sodality is to foster a devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary through prayer and service. The group’s fundraising focuses on the liturgical needs of the altar, while simultaneously fostering a spirit of friendship, kindness and fun! In September of 1941 the sodality became the first organization of St. Gabriel Parish (the parish was established in 1940). Originally, sodality members held card parties in their homes to raise funds. The Holy Name Society and St. Vincent de Paul Society joined these parties to furnish the altar linens and kitchen needs of the new rectory and convent. The parish festival was

short reflection and lift the needs of ourselves and our world to God. Over the years we have worked on being a welcoming place for those who come. We get to know a bit about them, rejoice at their successes and cry with them at their losses. These faithful volunteers embody the Gospel values of Matthew 25: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

an outgrowth of these original card parties. Initially the sodality managed the altar flowers and altar boy surplices. Today, the sodality continues to ensure care for the servers’ vestments, altar linens, towels and purificators. They have also donated many of the vestments our priests and deacons use in funerals.

For over 30 years, the sodality has sponsored a day of reflection for all ladies of St. Gabriel on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. In addition, sodality members gather monthly to share Mass, they formally meet four times annually, and they socialize (and fundraise!) at their spring brunch and Christmas luncheon. ■ JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

CATHOLIC QUIZ

How well do you know the Catholic faith? Q&A excerpted with permission from

at https://catholicquestions.com Visit this website to submit your Catholic questions! BY JIM BLACKBURN Founder and president, Catholic Questions Blackburn is a popular Catholic apologist, author and speaker.

here are no trick questions, but there are questions that will trip you up if you fail to read carefully. An answer is counted as wrong if any part of it — such as a date or name — is wrong. Your goal is not to find the answer that is least wrong, but the one answer that is wholly correct. On average, most informed Catholics score 50%. How well did you do? 1. According to the Catholic Church, who has the first responsibility for the education of children?

a. Public schools b. Parochial schools c. Parish director of religious education d. Parents

2. What is “the domestic church”?

a. The family home b. The local parish church c. The local diocese d. The country’s conference of Catholic bishops

3. Which version of the Bible is most often read at Mass in the United States?

a. Douay-Rheims b. New American Bible c. Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition d. King James Version

4. How many books are contained in the Bible? a. 66 (39 Old Testament, 27 New Testament)

“The Kiss of Judas” by Giotto di Bondone depicts Judas’ identifying kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane. b. 66 (27 Old Testament, 39 New Testament) c. 73 (46 Old Testament, 27 New Testament) d. 73 (27 Old Testament, 46 New Testament)

5. What was the name of the apostle who replaced Judas Iscariot? a. Thaddaeus b. Matthias c. Barnabas d. Paul

Answers can be found on page 46 SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR MORE CATHOLIC QUIZZES or visit http:// sfarch.org/catholic-quizzes JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Catholic Elementary Schools of North San Mateo County All Souls Catholic School (K-8th)

479 Miller Avenue So. San Francisco 94080 Phone: (650) 583-3562 Fax: (650) 952-1167 www.ssfallsoulsschool.org Open House Sunday, January 25th from 11:30am to 12:30pm. Applications are now being accepted Email the Admissions Director at info@ssfallsoulsschool.org

Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (Little Saints--8th) 80 Wellington Avenue, Daly City www.olphdc.org email: info@olphdc.org

(650) 755-4438 * Fax: (650) 755-7366 Applications now being accepted! CALL or EMAIL US FOR PRIVATE TOUR

St. Robert Catholic School (K-8th)

High Performing Students Who Are Engaged and Resilient! Open House: January 25th from 10:30-12:00 (following the 9:30am Mass)

345 Oak Avenue San Bruno 94066 (650) 583-5065 Fax: (650) 583-1418 www.saintrobert-school.org e-mail: strobertsoffice@gmail.com

Good Shepherd Catholic School (K-8th) 909 Oceana Boulevard Pacifica, CA 94044

Our Lady of Mercy Elementary School (Preschool, Tiny Kinder -Tots, K-8)

7 Elmwood Drive, Daly City, 94015 Tel: (650)756-3395 www.olmbulldogs.com Please contact the office to schedule a school tour and orientation with us. Applications are now being accepted.

St. Dunstan Catholic School (K-8th) 1150 Magnolia Avenue Millbrae, CA 94030 (650) 697-8119 www.st-dunstan.org

Applications now being accepted for 2026/2027 Please join us for our Open House: Sunday, January 25th from 11:15am-12:30pm Contact the office for more information or for private tours.

Holy Angels School (Preschool, TK-8th)

Over 70 Years of Excellence * Strong Catholic Identity *WCEA/WASC Accredited 20 Reiner Street, Colma 94014 (650)755-0220 Fax: (650) 755-0258 www.holyangelscolma.org Email: office@holyangelscolma.org Open House: Sunday, January 25th, from 10:00am -1:00pm Visit our website for more information. Schedule an in-person tour. Applications are now being accepted! Go Angels!

Phone:(650) 589-3909 Fax: (650) 359-4558

www.goodshepherdschool.us Join us for Family Mass and Open House on January 25, 2026 at 11:00am. Tours are on Wednesdays at 9am Applications are now being accepted!

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

TRADITION AND INNOVATION

Christ is all and in all

Reflections on a first year of listening, learning and leading together BY CHRIS FISHER Superintendent of the Department of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of San Francisco

his past year as superintendent has been, above all, a year of encounter. I have continued visiting our schools across San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties: praying alongside students, visiting classrooms, speaking with teachers, principals, pastors and parents, and joining communities in moments both ordinary and extraordinary—from centenaries and feast days and from the church choir to the athletic fields. Our scriptural theme this year, drawn from St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians—“Christ is all and in all”—is a lens through which I am privileged to experience these encounters. Christ is not an added element to our

First, Catholic schools are profoundly local. Each school reflects the particular history, charisms and needs of its community. It has been a joy to get to know each school and to hear the enthusiasm, pride and gratitude that every member of the communities feels for his or her own school. And yet, across all of our schools, there is a shared grammar: prayer, study, mercy, charity, sacrifice and hope. I encountered educators who understood their work as a vocation, not merely a profession, and witnessed students participate in the “ever ancient, ever new” mission of the Church. Second, I have seen again and again how creativity emerges in the balance between tradition and innovation. While pursuing continuous improvement in pedagogy, technology and safety, to name a few areas, our schools are at the same time deeply rooted in clarity

Christ is not an added element to our schools; He is their animating center. He is present in the prayerful stillness before a school Mass begins, in the disciplined joy of a wellordered classroom, in the quiet courage of a teacher persevering with a struggling student, and in the generosity of families who sacrifice to give their children a Catholic education.” schools; He is their animating center. He is present in the prayerful stillness before a school Mass begins, in the disciplined joy of a well-ordered classroom, in the quiet courage of a teacher persevering with a struggling student, and in the generosity of families who sacrifice to give their children a Catholic education. It is easy to see why, in the Vatican’s statement “The Catholic School on the Threshold of the New Millennium,” the Church proclaimed that “Catholic schools are at the heart of the Church.”

of mission, intellectual seriousness and the familiar rituals of Catholic school life. When Christ is truly “all and in all,” coherence follows—in curriculum, culture and community. Third, joy is a reliable sign of health. I have been struck repeatedly by the joy of our students–joy in learning, joy in friendship, joy in worship. To hear children sing at Mass, to watch them debate a text or solve a problem together, to see them take pride in serving others–these are signs that something essential is being done well.

LESSONS FROM THE ROAD One of the great privileges of this year has been the ability to practice what I like to call the ministry of presence– of being present in our schools and with the people who make them thrive. From these visits, several lessons have emerged with clarity.

CELEBRATIONS WORTH NAMING In this issue, we are thrilled to highlight several exciting developments in Catholic education in the universal Church, and here at home. Later in this issue, I have the chance to reflect on the relationship between two momentous occasions ›

JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Students from St. Peter Catholic School participate in the novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 1. CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

Photo by Mary Powers

Our schools proclaim that truth sets us free, that goodness is worth pursuing and that beauty can still captivate the heart.” for the Church—first, the new apostolic letter issued by Pope Leo XIV, “Drawing New Maps of Hope,” and his simultaneous elevation of St. John Henry Newman to doctor of the Church and co-patron of Catholic education. In both of these acts, the Holy Father provides us a roadmap of Catholic educational renewal. We also have the opportunity to celebrate the magnificent achievement of the students and teachers at Ecole Notre Dame des Victoires, which was recognized as a 2025 Blue Ribbon school—a remarkable and singular achievement reflecting the dedication of the school community to the love of learning. And finally, we introduce you to the St. Thomas More Fellows, an initiative of the Department of Catholic Schools to recruit teachers to the archdiocese, helping to solve the teacher shortage and provide a community of formation for new teachers. It has been an exciting and joy-filled year and half. And it has been a beautiful reminder that Catholic education exists at the very heart of the Church—helping young

WCAL CHAMPIONS

Students from Our Lady of the Pillar Academy in Half Moon Bay.

Photo by John Bartolome

people come to know who they are, why they are here and what God has called them to become. Our schools proclaim that truth sets us free, that goodness is worth pursuing and that beauty can still captivate the heart. As we continue this work together, my prayer is that we continue to share with our students and families an encounter with the source of our unity and our hope: Christ who is all and is in all. ■

FR. SAUER ACADEMY AT ST. IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREPARATORY Applications are now available on our website or can be picked up at the school. The Fr. Sauer Academy exists to support under-served students; therefore, family income is a consideration for acceptance.

academy.siprep.org • (415) 731-7500 ext. 5030 • fsa@siprep.org

ACADEMIA PADRE SAUER

Localizada en la Escuela Secundaria Preparatoria San Ignacio Aplicaciones disponibles en nuestro sitio web o bien puede recogerla en la oficina de la Academia Padre Sauer. La Academia Padre Sauer existe para apoyar y servir a alumnos con menos oportunidades y cuyas famllias son de bajos ingresos.

Undefeated Season

RIORDAN VARSITY FOOTBALL

JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO academy.siprep.org • (415) 731-7500 ext. 5030 • fsa@siprep.org

SOUTHERN SAN MATEO COUNTY

CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Sunday, January 25, 2026 Immaculate Heart of Mary

St. Charles School

Nativity School

St. Gregory School

Notre Dame Elementary

St. Matthew School

Our Lady of Angels

St. Pius School

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

St. Raymond School

1000 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont www.ihmschoolbelmont.org Tel: 650-593-4265 Open House & STREAM Carnival: Friday, January 23rd 3:00-6:00 PM

1250 Laurel Street, Menlo Park www.nativityschool.com tel 650-325-7304 Catholic Schools Week Mass: 9:30 AM Open House 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

1200 Notre Dame Avenue, Belmont www.nde.org tel 650-591-2209 Open House Saturday January 24 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

1328 Cabrillo Avenue, Burlingame www.olaschoolk8.org Tel: 650-343-9200 Catholic Schools Week Mass: 10:00 AM Open House: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

850 Tamarack Ave. stcharlesschoolsc.org Tel: 650-593-1629 Catholic Schools Week Mass: 8:30 AM Open House: 9:30 AM-11:00 AM

2701 Hacienda Street, San Mateo stgregs-sanmateo.org Tel:650-573-0111 Catholic Schools Week Mass: 9:00 AM Open House: 10:00 AM- 11:30 AM

910 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo https://www.stmatthewcath.org/ Tel: 650-343-1373 Catholic Schools Week Mass: 10:15 AM Open House 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM

1100 Woodside Road, Redwood City stpiusschool.org Tel: 650-368-8327 Catholic Schools Week Mass: 9:30 AM Open House: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Catholic Schools Week Mass: 10am Open House: 11am-12:30pm

1211 Arbor Road, Menlo Park www.straymond.org Tel: 650-322-2312 Catholic Schools Week Mass: 10:00 AM Open House 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

St. Catherine of Siena School

St. Timothy Catholic School

301 Grand Street, Redwood City www.school.mountcarmel.org Tel: 650-366-6127

1300 Bayswater Avenue, Burlingame www.stcos.com Tel: 650.344.7176 Catholic Schools Week Mass: 9:00 AM Open House: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

1515 Dolan Avenue, San Mateo www.sttimothyschool.org Tel: 650-342-6567 Catholic Schools Week Mass: 9:00 AM Open House: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Southern San Mateo County parish schools have been providing Catholic education to children of the San Francisco Peninsula for more than 140 years. Combining the power of Catholic faith formation and the promise of excellence, students and families enjoy the benefits of a fully credentialied faculty, a clear mission, vision and values, and the commitment of principals and pastors to prepare children for high school and beyond. Join us for our Catholic Schools Week Activities, Open House, and tours on Sunday, January 26, 2025! (or as otherwise noted) All schoolsCATHOLIC are fully accredited by the| Western Educational Assocation and SAN FRANCISCO JANUARYCatholic 2026 the Western Association of Schools and Colleges

CALLE D TO RE L ATIONSH I P

“He holds all things together” The integration of faith and reason in Catholic schools BY RYAN MAYER Director of Office of Catholic Identity Formation & Assessment, Archdiocese of San Francisco

any young people today grow up with the impression that faith and reason are opposed to one another. Adolescents in particular often imagine that a life of faith requires setting aside their intellect, or that faith demands believing without reason. These are distortions of both faith and reason. “Faith,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “is first of all a personal adherence of man to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed.” Faith speaks to our relationship with God, but faith is also a way of knowing.

scientific method and the knowledge that comes through our senses is not synonymous with reason. It is true that the scientific method utilizes reason in making sense of the data of empirical observation. Theology also uses reason in considering what God has revealed, which is why philosophy is often referred to as the “handmaiden of theology.” Notice that, far from being opposed, faith and reason work together and complement one another. “God, the first principle and last end of all things,” the catechism says, “can be known with certainty from the created world by the natural light of human reason.”

In Catholic schools, the integration of faith and reason means that no subject stands in isolation. Catholic schools should design curriculum where disciplinary knowledge is taught rigorously and connected explicitly to questions of ultimate meaning.” The knowledge that faith offers is not merely quantifiable or abstract. In becoming one of us in the person of Jesus Christ, God reveals the deepest truth about ourselves, that we are called to relationship with Him. Reason, strictly speaking, concerns what can be known through the intellect and through logic. Very little human knowledge comes through logic. All of our knowledge comes through our senses and much of what we hold as true comes through natural faith–that is, by trusting others who are trustworthy. Often what people mean when they use the term “reason” is something like the scientific method or empirical observation. But the

Understanding that God is trustworthy is what warrants our faith in God and what He has revealed. We believe what God has revealed because it is God who has revealed it. Our very reason directs us to trust in God. Faith does not negate reason, but takes us beyond it into relationship–and the deeper we enter into relationship with God the Creator, the more we understand about the world and ourselves. In Catholic schools, the integration of faith and reason means that no subject stands in isolation. Catholic schools should design curriculum where disciplinary knowledge is taught rigorously and connected explicitly › JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Students from schools across the archdiocese: clockwise from the top, Junipero Serra High School; Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep; Stella Maris Academy, San Francisco; ICA Cristo Rey Academy; Marin Catholic High School and St. Charles School, San Carlos. CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

Catholic education, in affirming the necessity of both faith and reason, enlarges our understanding of the world and of ourselves. It teaches students that the world is intelligible, that their lives have meaning and that the search for truth is joyful.” to questions of ultimate meaning. It looks like exploring moral implications and the dignity of human life in the sciences, in history or in literature, for example. It looks like fostering wonder and exploring the role of transcendence and beauty in literature and the arts. Moreover, religious truth and theology cannot be viewed as ancillary or “in addition” to the curriculum. Because Christ is the Logos who “holds all things together in Himself” (Colossians 1:17), every subject is also an opportunity to explore theological meaning. If students do not find coherence between the various subjects, they will fail to comprehend meaning and purpose in the world and in their lives. Still

less will they come to discern the voice of the Creator in their study of the world and in their consciences. The world will appear fragmented and meaningless, their place in it uncertain and purposeless. Pope Leo XIV has urged teachers to nourish the deeper hunger for truth and meaning. “Feeding the hunger for truth and meaning is a necessary task,” he has said, warning that without authentic meaning students risk “falling into emptiness.” (Address to the Participants of the Jubilee of the World of Education, Oct. 27, 2025) The most important integration is in the life of the teacher. “[I]n imitation of Christ, the only Teacher, they reveal the Christian message not only by word but also by every gesture of their behavior.” (“The Catholic School,” 43) Catholic school teachers are walking, talking curriculum. Their very lives witness to a way of life. When students encounter the smile and compassion of a teacher in whom the student sees a lived thirst for what is true and good, this witness carries more pedagogical weight than any lesson plan a teacher could prepare and that no standardized test can measure. Pope Leo, like his predecessors, has repeatedly recognized the crucial role of teachers, saying, “Educators are called to a responsibility that goes beyond their work contract: their witness has the same value as their lessons.” (“Drawing New Maps of Hope,” 2025, 5.2) Catholic education, in affirming the necessity of both faith and reason, enlarges our understanding of the world and of ourselves. It teaches students that the world is intelligible, that their lives have meaning and that the search for truth is joyful. Pope Leo echoes this harmony, noting in a 2025 address that “Christ is not a stranger to rational discourse, but rather the keystone that gives coherence and meaning to all our thoughts.” (Message to Participants of the 28th General Assembly of the International Federation of Catholic Universities, July 21, 2025) Truth can never be reduced to an abstract intellectual exercise because truth is a person, Jesus Christ. The contemplation of the truth–whether through faith, reason or the natural sciences–is ultimately an encounter with the one who said, “I AM the Truth”– Christ, the Logos through whom all things were made. ■ JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

CLUSTER II/V

Discover our Catholic schools serving the Excelsior, Glen Park, Mission, Noe Valley and Visitacion Valley Districts—where strong values, academic success, and community come together!

School of the Epiphany office@sfepiphany.org www.sfepiphany.org 415-337-4030

Our Lady of the Visitacion School Principal@olvsf.org https://olvsf.org 415-239-7840

St. Anthony Immaculate Conception bmoodie@saicsf.org

St. Finn Barr School info@stfinnbarr.org www.stfinnbarr.org 415-333-1800

St. James Catholic School office@sjsSF.net SJSsf.net 415-647-8972

St. John School officesj@stjohnseagles.com https://stjohnseagles.com/

St. Paul’s School info@stpaulsf.net Stpaulschoolsf.org CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026 415-648-2055

St. Peter’s Catholic School info@sanpedro.org https://www.stpeterssf.org/ 415-647-8662

St. Philip’s School info@saintphilipschool.org www.saintphilipschool.org 15 415-824-8467

https://www.saicsf.org/ 415-648-2008

415-584-8383

CHARTING A COURSE

Drawing new maps of hope for Catholic education Pope Leo XIV reflects on the future of Catholic education 60 years after Vatican II BY RYAN MAYER Director of Office of Catholic Identity Formation & Assessment, Archdiocese of San Francisco

n Oct. 28, 2025, the 60th anniversary of “Gravissimum educationis,” the Second Vatican Council’s declaration on Christian education, Pope Leo XIV promulgated an apostolic letter titled “Drawing New Maps of Hope,” calling for a renewal of Catholic education. One of the document’s strongest themes is that Catholic education is a living, dynamic tradition. Pope Leo traces the rich history of Christian pedagogy—from the desert fathers and monastic traditions to the educational work of St. John Baptiste de La Salle, St. John Bosco, Maria Montessori and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. This history is not nostalgia; it is a reminder that educational charisms have always emerged because the Church recognized the needs of the time and

responded with creativity and courage—and continues to do so today. These various charisms and expressions form what Pope Leo calls “educational constellations,” an image repeated throughout his reflection. He explains the image this way: “I speak of a ‘constellation,’ because the world of Catholic education is a living and pluralistic network: parish schools and colleges, universities and institutes of higher education, professional training centers, movements, digital platforms, service-learning initiatives and school, university and cultural pastoral programs. Each ‘star’ has its own brightness, but together they chart a course. (8.1)” Catholic education in the Archdiocese of San Francisco reflects this constellation. Nearly 100 Catholic elementary and high

JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

schools each has its own unique history, community and charism, yet all are united in the mission shared by every Catholic school: to encounter Jesus Christ in all that is true, good and beautiful, and to form young people into the persons God created them to be. The “constellation” of Catholic education here also includes mission partners who support teacher formation and school culture, such as the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, Openlight Media’s Education in Virtue curriculum, Sophia Institute for Teachers and the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life, among others. At the heart of Pope Leo’s reflection is the conviction that Catholic education is not simply another service or program of the Church but “forms the very fabric of evangelization.” Catholic schools are a “concrete way in which the Gospel becomes an educational gesture, a relationship, a culture.” (1.1) Every classroom, lesson, conversation and encounter is a moment in which the Gospel can take flesh. Catholic schools must therefore view their work not only as academic formation but as participation in the Church’s mission of evangelization. For teachers, this means that personal witness matters as much as instruction. Pope Leo highlights the importance of teacher formation—both professional and spiritual—and calls for shared formation among school communities so that teachers grow together in mission and vocation.

The Holy Father also stresses that despite changing cultural and social landscapes, the heart of Catholic education remains constant: the dignity of the human person made in the image of God and the pursuit of truth. Religious truth is not an addendum to education but the foundation for understanding all truth and the dignity of the person. This vision naturally leads to the essential communal dimension of Catholic education. Parents, as the primary educators of their children, are indispensable “stars” in the constellation. Catholic schools partner with them to form an educational “alliance,” since “the family remains the first place of education. Catholic schools collaborate with parents; they do not substitute them.” This alliance, Pope Leo emphasizes, “requires intentionality, listening and co-responsibility.” (5.3) In a cultural moment marked by fragmentation, speed, and digital noise, Catholic schools are invited to recover what Pope Leo calls a “cosmology of paideia”—a holistic, hope-filled vision of the human person rooted in the unity of faith and reason. “Drawing New Maps of Hope” is both a call to renewal and a reaffirmation of the essential role Catholic education plays in the life of the Church. On this 60th anniversary of the Church’s foundational document on education, we are called to relaunch the mission with renewed creativity and faith— drawing new maps of hope for the generations to come. ■

The heart of Catholic education remains constant: the dignity of the human person made in the image of God and the pursuit of truth.”

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

HOLY EXAM PLE

‘Cor ad cor loquitur’

Pope Leo XIV, St. John Henry Newman and the renewal of Catholic education BY CHRIS FISHER Superintendent of the Department of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of San Francisco

hen Pope Leo XIV released his apostolic letter “Drawing New Maps of Hope” last October, he offered the Church a vision of education marked by a deep sense of tradition, love and justice. All people, rich and poor, deserve a Catholic education, grounded in the love of our great Catholic intellectual tradition. Accompanying this stirring reminder for the Church, the Holy Father simultaneously elevated St. John Henry Newman as co-patron of the Church’s educational mission. It was a striking gesture. Newman, whose motto “cor ad cor loquitur” — “heart speaks to heart” — captured the essence of Christian formation, now stands beside St. Thomas Aquinas as a guide for the Church’s ministry of teaching. The Holy Father reminds the faithful that, despite our digital age, “no algorithm can substitute what makes education human: poetry, irony, love, art, imagination, the joy of discovery and even learning from mistakes as an opportunity for growth.” In this, Pope Leo echoes Newman with great clarity. In a world where education often collapses into technical skill or ideological formation, Pope Leo calls us back to the deeper task: helping the young rediscover what it means to be human, to seek truth and to encounter God. Newman gives us language for this work. As Pope Leo does today, Newman understood that the path to the intellect runs through the

heart, and the path to the heart through the imagination. Nowhere is this expressed more vividly than in his “Tamworth Reading Room” letters. “The heart is commonly reached,” Newman wrote, “not through the reason, but through the imagination, by means of direct impressions, by the testimony of facts and events, by history, by description. Persons influence us, voices melt us, looks subdue us, deeds inflame us.” For Newman, ideas do not descend upon the soul as abstractions. They arrive clothed in story, beauty and lived example. We come to love the truth before we learn to articulate it. This is why beauty plays such a central role in the renewal of Catholic education. Beauty is not ornament. Rather, it is a mode of knowing. Beauty trains attention, awakens desire and forms the imagination to recognize meaning, symbol, sign — even sacrament. In the Catholic tradition, beauty, truth and goodness belong together; to encounter one is to be led toward the others. When children memorize a poem, narrate a story or imitate a passage of great prose — as our principals experienced through the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education’s work with us this year — they are being introduced to these realities through a form suited to their nature. These practices do not distract from rigorous learning; they make rigorous learning possible. They teach children to

The heart is commonly reached not through the reason, but through the imagination, by means of direct impressions, by the testimony of facts and events, by history, by description. Persons influence us, voices melt us, looks subdue us, deeds inflame us.” ST. JOHN HENRY NEWMAN

JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

notice, to listen, to attend, to enter the inner life of a text. And in a quiet way, they prepare the ground for faith. Pope Leo writes that “desire and the heart must not be separated from knowledge: it would mean splitting the person,” and that Catholic education must hold together desire, intellect and wonder. Newman helps explain why. The imagination is the bridge between what we know and what we love. It allows moral truth to take root in us before we can fully analyze it. It allows religious truth to become personal rather than merely conceptual. This is especially important for the young. A child does not first encounter God through syllogisms, but through the beauty of creation, the holy example of a teacher, the rhythm of prayer, the story of a saint, the experience of being loved. As Catholic educators, we also inherit Newman’s broader vision of forming young people capable of making meaningful contributions to society. He believed education should develop clear judgment, articulate expression and a mind capable of grasping the whole. These qualities elevate public life and strengthen the bonds of civilization. They ›

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Newman understood the fragility of faith in a fragmented age, and he believed deeply in the power of beauty and imagination to draw the soul toward God. His motto—’cor ad cor loquitur’—remains a fitting description of what Catholic education hopes to achieve. It reminds us that education is always personal, always relational, and always dependent on grace.” are as necessary for the world of San Francisco as they were for Victorian England. Teaching through beauty supports this aim. It enlarges the mind and refines the moral imagination, giving students the inner resources to recognize truth amid confusion and to act with integrity in a culture often marked by uncertainty. In elevating Newman, Pope Leo XIV has given the Church a companion for this moment. Newman understood the fragility

of faith in a fragmented age, and he believed deeply in the power of beauty and imagination to draw the soul toward God. His motto — “cor ad cor loquitur” — remains a fitting description of what Catholic education hopes to achieve. It reminds us that education is always personal, always relational and always dependent on grace. As we continue the work of renewing Catholic education in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, I invite our community to turn to Newman as an intercessor and guide. His insights remain fresh, and his heart remains generous. He teaches us that truth becomes compelling when it is beautiful, and that beauty reveals its purpose when it speaks to the heart. And it is beauty that will lead us and our students to Christ. As St. Augustine — the spiritual father of both Newman and Pope Leo XIV — once prayed: “Late have I loved you, O beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! ... I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.” May our hearts and the hearts of those we teach every day burn ever more greatly for the peace of Christ. ■

JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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CATHOLIC TALENT PROJECT

St. Thomas More Fellowship

Finding and forming Catholic educators amid a teacher shortage BY CHRISTINA GRAY

ive young people from around the country are living communally at the old St. Cecilia Parish convent while working their very first jobs as Catholic school teachers. They head out in different directions each morning, to Stella Maris Academy and St. Robert, St. Veronica, St. Paul and Notre Dame des Victoires schools. Ally Grieshop, Ellie Wyllie, Andrew Song, Fatima Arevalo and Sydney King were strangers before they met last summer. When Catholic San Francisco met them at St. Cecilia in November, the group’s youthful kinship was clear to see as they navigate the bumps and blessings of being a first-time teacher in an unknown city – together.

CATHOLIC TALENT PROJECT The young teachers are the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s first cohort of St. Thomas More Fellows. The teaching fellowship is a recruitment, formation and placement program of the Catholic Talent Project, a nonprofit launched by Thomas Carroll, former superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Boston. It was conceived in part as a strategic solution to a national teacher shortage. In a competitive market, the nationwide deficit has had perhaps a greater impact on Catholic schools, where hiring qualified, mission-aligned teachers is a priority, according to Superintendent of Schools Chris Fisher. He visited all the schools in the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 2024, his first year in the role. “I heard time and time again that a main challenge for our principals is finding teachers who are aligned and qualified, and then retaining those teachers for the long term,” he said. Fisher lived on the East Coast before his move to San Francisco. That’s when he got to know and work with Carroll. Carroll, now president of the Catholic Talent

Lead writer, Catholic San Francisco grayc@sfarch.org

Project, concluded that the future of Catholic school renewal depends upon the cultivation of faithful Catholic witnesses to serve as classroom teachers, principals and superintendents in Catholic schools. “A school is its teachers,” Fisher said. “A Catholic school relies on teachers who share the same vision of Catholic education to serve and to teach the students.” Carroll developed the Catholic Talent Project to help Boston’s Catholic schools recruit, form, place and retain teachers, administrators and other school leaders. Fisher helped him develop the formation program it uses today. The St. Thomas More Fellowship is designed for recent college graduates who have not been teachers before. Applicants go through a rigorous screening process that involves both program administrators in Boston and its partner diocese or school. Fellows, when chosen, make a commitment to the two-year program of formation and support that begins with a five-week summer training in Boston for new teachers. Later, after a series of screenings and interviews, fellows are placed in their first teaching jobs at Catholic schools in their own dioceses. “I saw firsthand, through my experience at the schools in Boston, that the model worked,” said Fisher. “The fellowship brought the teachers in, they formed them well, they placed them appropriately, they retained them, and they became part of the life of the school.” Fifty new Catholic teachers were recruited for Boston schools in the first two years, he said. The Archdiocese of San Francisco became a partner in the St. Thomas More Fellowship program last year. The Catholic Talent Project hopes to add other Catholic dioceses to the fellowship program in coming years. JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

St. Thomas More Fellows: Pictured together at their communal home at the St. Cecilia Parish convent in San Francisco are from left, Ally Greishop, Fatima Arvalo, Sydney King, Ellie Wyllie and Andrew Song.

Fisher got the full support of Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone and Vicar General & Moderator of the Curia Father Patrick Summerhays. The program is selfsupporting, said Fisher, thanks to local benefactors who believe in the future of Catholic education. According to catholictalentproject.org, Boston and San Francisco both have an “urgent need for courageous witnesses to the Gospel.” SAN FRANCISCO’S HIGH COST OF LIVING Sarah Currier, associate superintendent of schools, said Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of San Francisco share a reality that amplifies the teacher shortage: the high cost of living, specifically the shortage of affordable housing. “It’s a very difficult city to move to,” she said. “It’s hard to live here, financially and practically. We need an influx of teachers, and we need to find creative ways to bring them in. Once they get here, they need to be supported.” The fellows here, she said, have a teacher’s salary. They pay rent, but at a reduced rate that “helps them acclimate to the city” without struggling as they focus on their formation. They are supported in the credentialing process, too. CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

Photos by Christina Gray

The St. Thomas More Fellowship is designed to make all aspects of becoming a Catholic school teacher “more possible,” she said.   “It’s bringing good Catholic, mission-aligned teachers to San Francisco and providing them with a soft landing place,” said Currier. “It’s providing them with a community of other new teachers who are doing the same thing they are doing for the same reasons they are doing them. And it’s giving us an opportunity to mentor them directly with support from a nonprofit organization.” Fisher is confident that the archdiocese can “solve the problem of teacher recruitment and retainment on a scale here.” “Part of it is inspiring in young people a teaching vocation and opening up in them the possibility that being a teacher and working in Catholic education is something they can do with their lives,” said Fisher. “There is a viable path for it, and now there is also a system and structure of support to help especially during the first two years of being a new teacher.” › SCAN TO LEARN MORE or visit catholictalentproject.org

ST THOMAS MORE FATIMA AREVALO St. Paul School, San Francisco

ELLIE WYLLIE St. Veronica School, South San Francisco

“It’s really good to being able to live so closely with such strong, devout Catholics.”

“I have been very pleasantly surprised by San Francisco. The people in the Catholic churches here are really solid.”

San Francisco wasn’t on the career radar of Fatima Arevalo, 22. She grew up on the East Coast and graduated from Northeastern University in Boston after studying health science and psychology. During her junior year, she worked at a school for the blind and “fell in love with the students, with being in the classroom and with special education.” She calls her first teaching job in the first-grade homeroom of St. Paul School “very sweet and very rewarding.” “I love seeing how malleable the minds of young people are and being a witness to how they grow in their faith.”

A Nebraska native and graduate of Benedictine College in Kansas, Wyllie’s first post-college job was in marketing. It didn’t fulfill her. “I realized I wanted to work with children and spread the faith,” she said. “The first year of teaching there are so many aspects you don’t really feel prepared for or even know about,” said Wyllie, 24, of the first-year learning curve. She was placed at St. Veronica School as the fifth-grade homeroom teacher. “It’s awesome to go through your first teaching experience with other people,” she said. “I think that is one of the best parts of the St. Thomas More Fellowship program.”

ANDREW SONG St. Robert School, San Francisco

“We have a sense of solidarity as young people who are on fire for the faith with a common vocation to teach.” Becoming a teacher “was not big on my mind in college,” said Andrew Song, 22, now teaching fifth and seventh grade math at St. Robert School. The UC Berkeley graduate who studied economics and data science “was thinking of maybe religious discernment or becoming a FOCUS (a Catholic missionary program) missionary.” “While I had never thought about being a middle school math teacher, there were qualities about teaching that were attractive to me,” said Song. He enjoyed leading Bible studies and giving catechetical talks and reflections at the Newman Center in college. “One of my Bible study students said to me, ‘Andrew, you light up when you talk about the faith.’ So, I thought maybe I had something for teaching in me.”

SYDNEY KING Notre Dame des Victoires School, San Francisco

“Each of us already had a similarly strong love for the Church and a real sense that Christ is worth everything.” Native Virginian Sydney King graduated in 2022 from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA., with a degree in philosophy. She added a master’s degree in international affairs from Johns Hopkins University to that in 2024. She took a job in public education, “not as a teacher,” she said, but in communications for an international affairs organization. She lived in Italy for almost three years, and, when she began planning her return to the U.S., saw an ad for the St. Thomas More Fellowship program on LinkedIn and applied to it. “I am really grateful to be placed at Notre Dame des Victoires because I have a real appreciation for different cultures,” said King, who is the fifth-grade homeroom teacher.   JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

FELLOWS ALLY GRIESHOP Stella Maris Academy, San Francisco

“Faithful Catholic witness is by far the most important thing the St. Thomas More Fellowship is looking for.” A native of Columbus, Ohio, Grieshop, 22, graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in history and intended to go into political marketing. She loved her internship at the Heritage Foundation in Washington but realized that the marketing field was not for her. She fell in love with education after going through a “robust” formation program for interns at Heritage. As to why she believes the St. Thomas More Fellowship program chose her and the other members of the San Francisco cohort among the many applicants, she said she believed it was their faith above all things. She recited the famous last words of St. Thomas More before his execution by England’s King Henry VIII, prioritizing his religious conscience over the king’s authority. “I die the king’s good servant, but God’s first.” ■

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CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

INCLUSION

Second-year developments at St. Brigid Academy The archdiocese’s first Catholic inclusion school BY MEGAN RABBITT Head of School, St. Brigid Academy

“W

e have a picture of some junk,” said Kaylie Mini, K1 teacher at St. Brigid Academy. “Now, what if we take away the “j” sound from the beginning of the word ‘junk’? What sound and new word do we have left?” Mini is leading her students in Fundations, a multisensory approach for teaching the foundational skills of reading, spelling and handwriting for students in kindergarten through third grade. This approach to teaching can be implemented as whole-class instruction or for students who need intervention.

FIRST LOCAL CATHOLIC ‘INCLUSION’ SCHOOL MODEL St. Brigid Academy was launched in the summer of 2024 as a safe and nurturing Catholic learning environment for children who are neurodivergent and academically gifted. It is the first Catholic school inclusion model in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. St. Brigid Academy was established under the guidance of the Department of Catholic Schools. It was blessed upon its opening by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who emphasized that all students deserve a Catholic education and that, as Catholics, we are called to serve the

most vulnerable in our community, which is in accordance with the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools. Through small class sizes and a collaborative learning environment, students are provided a personalized approach based on their individualized learning profiles. The community is dedicated to developing the whole child, nurturing each student’s spiritual, intellectual, social-emotional and physical growth.

SUPPORT FOR DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES “Fundations” is just one example of the academy’s unique approach to educating students. All homeroom teachers are trained in the Wilson Reading System, which supports diverse learners with reading differences. The most notable programming that sets St. Brigid’s apart from traditional Catholic schools are its “walk-to-read,” “walk-tomath” and social-emotional learning programs. Each student has an individual “student success plan.” Teachers and counselors meet with parents a minimum of three times a year to help support students. The plan is a fluid document containing information about a student’s learning profile, strengths, challenges and goals for the school year. The plan is updated each trimester to ensure that the school is tracking each student’s progress throughout the school year. With a variety of qualitative and quantitative assessments, students are leveled for both English language arts and mathematics. If they are below or above grade level, they may “walk” to their leveled groupings. For some students, the movement takes place within the multi-age homeroom classroom, but for others it requires moving to a different classroom. Homeroom classrooms are referred to

Through small class sizes and a collaborative learning environment, students are provided a personalized approach based on their individualized learning profiles.” 26

JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Grades 2-3 homeroom teacher Eric Case leads a small group math lesson. Photo courtesy of St. Brigid Academy

as colors and not grades, so there is no stigma of switching rooms for reading and math. As content becomes more challenging in middle school grades, students with learning differences benefit from the small class sizes. The middle school English language arts and social studies teacher, Roberta Havens, uses a literaturebased approach to teaching her students. Students work around a table collaboratively, which supports their learning styles. On the lower floor, in Grades 2-3 teacher Eric Case’s classroom, station rotation is used to support the leveling within the classroom. Within a 60-minute math block, for example, students will have the opportunity to work independently and have instructional time with their teacher. Case emphasizes what he has coined as “math talk.” Students talk about a strategy that works for them. Every student solves the problem on his

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

or her own whiteboard and afterward shares how they approached the problem and what strategies they used. Case highlights that each person might have a preferred strategy for tackling a problem and that it is good to learn what strategy works best. This is an example of how St. Brigid’s inclusive teaching methods are embedded in the lessons being taught daily. BEHAVIORAL AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING Last year, St. Brigid’s made incredible strides in inclusion by expanding behavioral and executive functioning supports, strengthening collaboration among general education teachers, specialists and families. This year, that work is deepening by focusing on executive functioning, emotional regulation and inclusive classroom strategies rooted in faith and compassion. St. Brigid adopted a social emotional learning curriculum called “Friendzy,” taught by school ›

Photo courtesy of St. Brigid Academy

Middle school teacher Roberta Havens watches a student’s social studies presentation.

counselor Jenna Murphy-De La Rosa. Friendzy is in line with our spiritual teachings and caters to a diverse learning population. “The SEL curriculum is rooted in Christ’s example of love, empathy and compassion,” said Murphy-De La Rosa. “Each unit teaches students how to be better friends, classmates and Catholics by modeling Christlike behaviors such as forgiveness, kindness and understanding.” As we learned more about how to best meet the social emotional needs of its students, it became apparent that there was a need for a specialist on staff to work with some of the higher-need students, especially if they were not seeing a therapist outside of school. This year we contracted with associate marriage and family counselor Michelle Copley. “I work with neurodivergent learners who may need a little extra support building the social and emotional tools that help them succeed both in school and beyond. By partnering with students, parents and teachers, we make sure those skills carry over into the classroom and at home. This work helps students grow in confidence and become the best versions of themselves,” said Copley.

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY Last spring, I traveled to Los Angeles for the Beyond Inclusion Fair at Loyola Marymount University to spread the word about the archdiocese’s achievements in inclusive Catholic education. In October, I hosted an Empowering Diverse Learners Fair, bringing families together from all over the Bay Area to learn about inclusive schools and support providers available to families. St. Brigid’s long-term goal is to provide support to not only the students and parents of our school, but also to educators and parents in the broader community. We have plans to offer teacher and parent workshops in 2026. The counseling department will host its first parent workshop with an emphasis on providing parents with strategies to support their child’s growth. St. Brigid’s Academy is proud to be the first inclusion school in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. All the faculty and staff believe that inclusion in Catholic education matters because it reflects the Gospel message: every child belongs. By embracing diverse learners, we are building not just stronger classrooms, but a stronger faith community — one that mirrors Christ’s inclusive love and celebrates every student’s God-given gifts. ■

JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

BLESSINGS AND SUCCESSES

Liturgical renewal in Catholic education BY ANGELA JOHNSON Associate superintendent for elementary schools

hat an exciting time to serve, learn and worship in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of San Francisco! In celebration of National Catholic Schools Week, reflection on the first half of the academic year recalls the numerous blessings and successes of the first semester that fill hearts with gratitude and sustains a sense of hope from the completion of the Jubilee Year. It seems as if it was just yesterday that new principals were gathering with the Department of Catholic Schools at St. Patrick’s Seminary and University at the start of the Fons Et Culmen Sacred Liturgy Summit, to attend the Forum on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Music and Catholic Identity in Education with the Cardinal Newman Society. The summit and the forum inspired a liturgical renewal throughout the academic year, which has led to initiatives that promote increased celebration of the sacred liturgy for students, inaugural implementation of the Theology of the Body program and professional development for teachers in sacred music, to name a few. Led by the Holy Spirit, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone continuously leads the liturgical renewal and is constantly mindful of how Catholic schools play a significant role. “Catholic schools provide a sacred space where students can learn to be attentive to the gentle voice of Christ, the Good Shepherd,” wrote Archbishop Cordileone. They do this through prayer, spending time reflecting on Scripture, and especially through the encounter with Christ in the sacred liturgy” (Catholic San Francisco, September 2025). In response to the liturgical renewal, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of San Francisco have made strides to foster more opportunities for students to attend the sacred liturgy and learn about Theology of the Body from St. John Paul II. Prior to the

start of this academic year, at St. Brendan Parish, the pastor, Father Michael Quinn, and the principal, Dianne Lakatta, collaborated and strategically planned for the students at the school to attend Mass at the parish on a weekly basis. On the Feast of the Assumption, the faculty attended Mass celebrated by Father Quinn and then participated in the flagship training for the implementation of the Theology of the Body program, led by speakers from the Ruah Woods Institute, Kathleen Cory and Dena Reany. The church and school collaboration are a living testament to how the sacred liturgy transforms catechetical and leadership formation of Catholic school administration, faculty, staff, students, parents and families, and renews Catholic education when it is centered in the Eucharist. The sacred time and space for children to be able to stop and pause in their day to reflect on their Creator is an essential part of the Catholic school day. Students of all ages, including the youngest children, are taught to be able to “listen” to the voice of the Lord with their hearts and not necessarily their ears. In her insightful book, “The Mass Explained to Children,” Maria Montessori wrote, “Therefore, in this question of the liturgical education of children it is very important for us not only to teach them what they must know, but to lift ourselves to a much more sensitive frame of mind in order to be able to teach it.” Catholic educators are called to consistently and constantly cultivate their own liturgical formation and spiritual development if they are to pass on an authentic liturgical understanding and promote active participation among students. According to “The Identity of the Catholic Schools for a Culture of Dialogue” (2022), Catholic educators in schools

JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

and universities bear the responsibility to ensure that all students, regardless of age or developmental level, not only pass on the faith and how to participate in it but truly live the faith. As the Department of Catholic Schools seeks to further support the liturgical renewal, it has partnered with various leading, mission-driven organizations to train administrators and teachers in support of their spiritual formation and the instructional leadership capacities. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, director of the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music, provided teachers with training on sacred music for the sacred liturgy and the classroom environment. She will offer ongoing training to teachers in the spring as well. The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education offered various presentations to administrators and teachers on pedagogical and leadership methodologies that engage Catholic schools in the traditions and practices of the faith in all aspects of spiritual and intellectual formation. Thus, these efforts testify to the recent report that when Catholic schools place the sacred liturgy at the center of their programming, priorities naturally and supernaturally align, which inevitably results in increased academic achievement, increased enrollment and increased retention of staffing and students, to name a few, according to the Cardinal Newman Society (2023). In honor of National Catholic Schools Week, further inspiration for Catholic education in the United States is drawn from the liturgical legacy of f Pope Benedict XVI and his profound message for this nation at The Catholic University of America during his visit in the spring of 2008, where he called Catholic ›

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Across the nation, Catholic schools have cultivated families, national and global leaders, and innumerable vocations, including that of Pope Leo XIV, who was educated in a Catholic parochial school, as well as at the seminary and university levels, in the United States.” educators around the world to minister in all their respective roles in schools or universities in bringing all students, regardless of age, to encounter Jesus in the liturgy and to foster a deeper love for Him and for the salvation of all souls. Pope Benedict pointed out that the United States, despite its relatively youthful age, had been blessed with the fruits of the legacy of American Catholic education founded by some of the holiest saints in history – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Frances Cabrini and

St. Katharine Drexel, to name a few. Across the nation, Catholic schools have cultivated families, national and global leaders, and innumerable vocations, including that of Pope Leo XIV, who was educated in a Catholic parochial school, as well as at the seminary and university levels, in the United States. Therefore, together, in joyful support of the popes, bishops, especially Archbishop Cordileone, and priests of the Church, may parents, the primary educators, and Catholic educators and catechists continue to partner in efforts that support the liturgical renewal in Catholic schools and form the next generation of missionary disciples, vocations and global leaders, who are committed to a deep spirituality that leads to the presence of Christ in the Eucharist for the salvation of all souls. ■ Reference: https://www.ncregister.com/ features/how-daily-mass-transformeda-catholic-school-in-kentucky

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Pictured from left: Father Greg Heidenblut, Notre Dame des Victoires pastor; Chris Fisher, superintendent of schools; Sarah Currier, associate superintendent of schools; Adrian Peterson, principal; Danny Sauter; Father Rene Iturbe, former pastor; Mary Ghisolfo, former principal.

Applause for our “Blue Ribbon” school

École Notre Dame des Victoires earns academic distinction with national award BY CHRISTINA GRAY Lead writer, Catholic San Francisco grayc@sfarch.org

cole Notre Dame des Victoires has a lot to celebrate. The French Catholic school founded by Marist priests in 1924 observed its 100th year in San Francisco in 2024. To cap that milestone, the school community was overjoyed to learn that the school located on Pine Street in downtown San Francisco was selected as one of the country’s 55 “Blue Ribbon” nonpublic schools by the Council for American Private Education. The distinction places it in the top 15% of schools nationwide

for academic excellence. It was one of only three schools recognized in the state of California. École Notre Dame des Victoires is a Catholic, coeducational school grounded in the French tradition. Its transitional kindergarten, elementary and middle school program is guided in the Marist charism by the example of Mary, the Blessed Mother. “It is an honor and joy to stand before you today as principal of this remarkable school, now recognized as a Blue Ribbon school,” said Adrian Peterson at a celebratory, all-school assembly Oct. 17. “This distinction represents the very best of who we are, a community of faith, scholarship and service, working together for the good of our students.” The Blue Ribbon award was granted for the 2024/2025 JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

school year, and the school was notified just before the start of the 2025/2026 school year. Peterson began her first year as principal with the 2025/2026 academic year. She said the award “reflects the dedication of the exceptional teachers who set high expectations, the perseverance of students who strive for excellence, and the support of our families who believe deeply in the mission of Catholic education.” The celebratory assembly packed the school auditorium where students, parents, faculty and staff were greeted by special guests including the Notre Dame des Victoires Parish pastor, Augustinian Father Gregory Heidenblut, and Marist Father Rene Iturbe, former pastor. Peterson was joined onstage by Chris Fisher, superintendent of Catholic schools; former principals Sarah Currier (now associate superintendent) and Mary Ghisolfo; and San Francisco Supervisor Daniel Sauter. “Today, we honor those who have made this achievement possible,” Peterson said. “Our teachers, staff, students, previous leaders and alumni who left us a legacy of learning that continues to thrive.” The only Catholic school in California to receive the recognition in 2025, École Notre Dame des Victoires was honored with the national Blue Ribbon award as an “exemplary high-performing school,” a distinction based on a range of rigorous metrics, including nationally normed assessments. The U.S. Department of Education officially discontinued the Blue Ribbon program in August 2025, after announcements about the awarded schools had already been made. In its place, the Blue Ribbon recognition was carried on by both the Council for American Private Education, which has historically partnered with the U.S. Department of Education to select private schools for national Blue Ribbon recognition, and by the California Department of Education, which has agreed to recognize the 2025 national Blue Ribbon awardees in the state of California. Currier, who served as principal of École Notre Dame des Victoires from 2018–2025, reflected on the school community’s extensive strategic work in the years leading up to this recognition. “This is truly a remarkable accomplishment,” she said. “It took six years for us to reach a point where applying for this distinction was even possible, and it required a complete overhaul of our academic program to get there.” The 30-page award application outlined the comprehensive measures the school implemented to strengthen curriculum and instructional planning, which was led and coordinated by Currier, assistant principal Morgan Sweeney, and the school leadership team and staff. “We implemented data-driven systems to measure student growth, introduced student-led conferences, established professional learning communities where teachers collaborated to increase academic supports › CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

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Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone offered his congratulations to the school community in a prerecorded message shown during the award ceremony.

and rigor, and founded the Collaborative Advancement and Support Team for Exceptional Learners program — our resource program for individualized student learning and support,” Currier said. “The work of our teachers and

students was tremendous, and I am so proud of all they have accomplished.” In a video message to the assembly, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone beamed across the stage onscreen. “This distinction affirmed Notre Dame des Victoire’s long tradition of academic excellence and its commitment to the formation of young people in mind, body and spirit,” he said. The award, he said, is a “tribute not only to the students but also to the exceptional teachers, staff and parents, whose dedication and commitment make a model for Catholic schools throughout the archdiocese and beyond.” Charles Cecilia is a 36-year employee of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and longtime teacher at École Notre Dame des Victories who was instrumental in this work. He told Catholic San Francisco the award was a “double blessing” for the historic school. “This award strengthens us to look forward to the next hundred years of our school as we chart new challenges and bolder visions for our students who will bring about the next bounty of exemplary achievements,” he said. ■ SCAN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CAPE BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS or visit capenetwork.org/capeannounces-2025-blue-ribbon-schools/

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theSaints Salesian founder, John Bosco, the cultivates a learning Saints Peterencourage and Paul School PeterSaints and Paul cultivates a learning Peter School and Paul School cultivates a learning community characterized achievement ofcharacterized educational goals, foster ofby warmth, optimism, Saints Peter and Paulcharacterized School cultivates arespect learning community by warmth, optimism, community by warmth, optimism, joy, reason, loving-kindness. Saints Peter and Paul School cultivates a learning community characterized by warmth, selfjoy, and others, and champion a optimism, belief reason, and loving-kindness. The and teachings of in joy, reason, and loving-kindness. The teachings of The teachings of the Salesian founder, John Bosco, community characterized by warmth, optimism, joy, reason, and loving-kindness. The teachings of the Salesianthe founder, John Bosco, encourage the Salesian founder, John encourage individuality that allows students toBosco, utilize their the encourage the achievement ofrespect educational joy, reason, and loving-kindness. The teachings ofgoals, the Bosco, encourage the achievement offounder, educational goals, foster ofJohn educational goals, fosterof respect of foster respect of talents toSalesian theachievement fullest. self and others, and champion a belief in achievement offounder, educational goals, foster respect theand Salesian John Bosco, the self others, and champion a encourage belief self and others, and champion a inof belief in individuality that allows self andindividuality others, and champion a belief instudents achievement educational goals, foster respect of their to utilize their that allows students totheir utilize individuality thatof allows students to utilize Please visit our website toto schedule tour. talents to allows the fullest. talents the individuality that students tofullest. utilize theirin self others, and champion a abelief talents toand the fullest. talents toSAN the fullest. individuality that allows students to utilize their CATHOLIC FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026 Please visit our website toaschedule a tour.to schedule a tour. talents to the fullest. visit our website Please visit our website to Please schedule tour. Please visit our website to schedule a tour.

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STUDE NT CORN E R

Learning about our patron saint

BY MARY POWERS Assistant director of communications and media relations. Office of Communications, Archdiocese of San Francisco

he second graders at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School in Burlingame spent October learning all about St. Francis as they prepare for the 800th anniversary of his death in 2026.

Guided by their teacher, Sister Corinna Catalano, the students explored the life of the beloved saint and discovered how his kindness, joy and love for creation continue to inspire the Church and the world today. › JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Perspectives from Catholic school students on topics of faith

Caeden Maghirang, second grade student at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School created a map of the ways in which we can make St. Francis alive in our world today.

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

Salvatore Militano, second grade student at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School, shares why St. Francis is still remembered today. He and the other students also made acrostic poems using St. Francis’ name.

When I visited their classroom, I was so impressed by their knowledge! They could answer all of my questions and they taught me things I didn’t know about the saint. I was even more impressed by their reports. Using the anniversary issue of the magazine as well as other books and website on St. Francis, the students created beautiful, unique reports detailing the life of St. Francis and answering questions about the city of San Francisco. They also wrote reflections on the impact St. Francis made on the world, how they could make St. Francis alive around them, and questions they would ask him if they met him—such as “are there mangos in heaven?” ■ SCAN HERE FOR EXAMPLES OF THEIR WORK or visit https:// sfarch.org/st-francis-projects

JANUARY 2026 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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LOCAL NEWS

Archdiocese celebrates nine-day novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe with traveling tilma relic A full-size replica of the miraculous tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe journeyed throughout the Archdiocese of San Francisco this Advent season, inspiring thousands of the faithful to enter more deeply into prayer and devotion to Our Lady. The image—gifted to Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone during his recent pilgrimage to Mexico—is a third-class relic, having been touched to the original tilma enshrined at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. For nine consecutive days from Nov. 28 to Dec. 6, the relic visited archdiocesan parishes and schools, San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. The final day of the novena was combined with the annual Cruzada

Guadalupe on Dec. 6 with more than 30,000 pilgrims walking from All Souls in South San Francisco to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption for Mass with Archbishop Cordileone. “We are celebrating this novena to pray for the needs of our archdiocese at this time, that God might send his guidance and protection to us and Our Lady may intercede for us, that we might be her faithful children and be able to carry out the mission of making her Son known to the world,” said Archbishop Cordileone. SCAN TO READ THE FULL STORY or visit https:// sfarch.org/archdiocesecelebrates-nine-day-novenato-our-lady-of-guadalupewith-traveling-tilma-relic/

Recent pastor installations

Jul. 27- Father Andrew P. Spyrow, St. Patrick Church in San Francisco Aug. 17- Father Gerardo Vazquez, St. Francis of Assis Church in East Palo Alto Aug. 24th - Father Armando J. Gutierrez, St. Finn Barr Church in San Francisco Sept. 14th – Father Miguel Antonio Ruiz, SVD, All Souls Church in San Francisco Sept. 21- Father Ian E. Quito, St. Gabriel Church in San Francisco Sept. 28th- Father Jose Shaji, St. Emydius Church in San Francisco

From Mallorca to San Francisco: Honoring St. Junipero Serra From Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, a delegation from the island of Mallorca, Spain, visited northern California in honor of the 10-year anniversary of the canonization of St. Junipero Serra. The delegation from Mallorca included the president and vice president of the Consell de Mallorca (the governing institution of the island of Mallorca), the mayor from Serra’s hometown of Petra, the vice-mayor of the capital city of Palma and the president of the Casa Serra Foundation, among other dignitaries. The group met with Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone on Sunday, Nov. 30, and visited several missions including Mission Dolores, Mission Santa Clara and Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel where Serra is buried. On Wednesday, Dec. 3, the Consell hosted a conference on Serra and his legacy in both Mallorca and California.

From left, Guillem Ginard Sala, director of culture, Consell de Mallorca; Llorenç Guillem Bauzà de Keizer, director of technology, Palma Townhall; Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco; Llorenç S. Galmés Verger, president of Consell de Mallorca; Salvador Femenias Riera, mayor of Petra; Antonia Roca Bellinfante, vice president, Consell de Mallorca and Catalina Font Gomila, president, Casa Serra Foundation

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JANUARY 2026

Photo courtesy of the Consell de Mallorca

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Jimmy Lai found guilty of national security violations, faces life in prison BY DANIEL PAYNE

Jimmy Lai, the Catholic human rights advocate whose long-running national security trial in China has drawn criticism and charges of persecution, was found guilty on Dec. 15 of multiple violations of China’s national security laws, bringing an end to several years of what advocates have described as a politically motivated show trial against a popular Hong Kong publisher. Lai, 78, is facing up to life in prison. His sentence will be handed down at a later date. SCAN TO READ THE FULL STORY or visit https://www.catholicnewsagency. com/news/268443/jimmy-laitrial-verdict-hong-kong

Pope Leo XIV receives exiled Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Álvarez BY WALTER SÁNCHEZ SILVA

Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 13 received Bishop Rolando Álvarez, the exiled bishop of Matagalpa and apostolic administrator of Estelí in Nicaragua. Álvarez is in forced exile after being deported by the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo, in January 2024.

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“The Holy Father received in audience this morning His Excellency Bishop Rolando José Álvarez Lagos, bishop of Matagalpa (Nicaragua),” the Vatican Press Office reported, without providing further details. From Chicago, Father Erick Díaz, an exiled Nicaraguan priest, said that Bishop Rolando Pope Leo XIV’s meeting with Álvarez José Álvarez is “an audience of hope and ecclesial Lagos communion” as well as “a significant moment for our Nicaraguan Church, marked by challenges, fidelity to the Gospel and hope in the Lord.” After offering his prayers “that this event may be fruitful and filled with the Spirit,” the priest wrote on Facebook: “‘Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation’ (Mark 16:15). May the Lord continue walking with us!” “The pope is well aware of the reality of the Church in Nicaragua and the situation of its people. It is undoubtedly a meeting filled with joy,” Father Edwing Roman, parochial vicar of St. Agatha’s parish in Miami, told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. SCAN TO READ THE FULL STORY or visit https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/ news/267809/pope-leo-xiv-receives-exilednicaraguan-bishop-rolando-alvarez

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(415) 614-5503 If you wish to speak to a non-archdiocesan employee please call this number. This is also a secured line and is answered only by a victim survivor. (800) 276-1562 Report sexual abuse by a bishop or a bishop’s interference in a sexual abuse investigation to a confidential third party. www.reportbishopabuse.org

U PCOMING EVE NTS

SAVE THE DATES! Come out and join us SCAN TO SEE THE COMPREHENSIVE CALENDAR OF EVENTS or visit sfarch.org/events Jan. 22: Vespers for the Week of Christian Unity For the 20th year, Archbishop Cordileone and Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Gerasimos will be leading solemn vespers in observance of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Join them in prayer at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Feb. 1: Mass for Consecrated Life Join us as we celebrate World Day for Consecrated Life, honoring those consecrated men and women who serve in the

archdiocese and those who are celebrating jubilee anniversaries of their profession of vows. The Mass for Consecrated Life will take place Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. Feb. 6: Online Rosary to Combat Human Trafficking Feb. 8 is the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking. It is also the memorial of St. Josephine Bakhita, the saint against human trafficking. We will pray for her intercession Feb. 6 at 12:30 p.m. to bring awareness to the evil of human trafficking and to intercede for the victims and survivors of human trafficking.

More information: https://sfarch. org/event/rosary-againsttrafficking/ Feb. 18: Ash Wednesday Feb. 21: Wedding Anniversary Mass All married couples in the archdiocese are invited to attend and celebrate their sacramental wedding anniversaries at a Mass and reception with Archbishop Cordileone Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. Those celebrating five-year anniversaries (5, 10, 15, 20, etc.) will be recognized during the Mass. A reception will follow in the event center. Register at: https:// sfarch.org/event/2026-weddinganniversary-celebration/

Photo by Jamil Dababneh/Walk for Life West Coast

2025 West Coast Walk for Life procession down Market Street Jan. 23 – 24: 22nd annual Vigil for Life and Walk for Life The 22nd annual Walk for Life will begin Saturday, Jan. 24, at 12:30 p.m. at the Civic Center in San Francisco. Join in prayer around the event with the Walk for Life Vigil Mass Jan. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Dominic Catholic Church followed by adoration from 7-8 p.m., adoration at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church (8-10 p.m.), and the Walk for Life Mass at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 24 with Archbishop Cordileone. Join us in praying and standing for life. Full list of events at: https://www.walkforlifewc.com/event-info/event-schedule/

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