A national conversation about Catholic schools and Hispanic children

Despite being a significant and growing percentage of Catholics in the United States, Hispanic families are overwhelmingly not choosing Catholic schools for their children. This enrollment challenge has and continues to be the focus of Catholic schools and (arch)dioceses around the country. But is the emphasis on enrollment the only and best way to talk about Catholic schools and Hispanic children?
 
This question led to a partnership between Boston College’s Roche Center for Catholic Education and the School of Theology and Ministry to launch the first ever National Survey of Catholic Schools Serving Hispanic Families, representing 656 Catholic Schools located in 130 (arch)dioceses in 45 states around the country.  The results of this survey were published in the March 2016 report, Catholic Schools in an Increasingly Hispanic Church.
 
While enrollment is an important factor in the conversation about Catholic schools and Hispanic families, there are other factors that need to be addressed such as intercultural competencies of Catholic schools leaders, partnerships between Catholic educational and Hispanic Ministry leaders, school cultures/environments (academic and spiritual), marketing strategies, and sustainable economic systems for school vitality, among others.
 
To expand the conversation that has emerged from this report, Boston College is convening the first National Summit on Catholic Schools and Hispanic Families in September 2016.

Why now?

At the November 2015 World Congress of Catholic Education, Pope Francis was asked, “what is the biggest temptation today for educators?” He responded, “it is walls. The greatest failure for an education is to educate within walls: the walls of a selective culture, the walls of a culture of security, the walls of a social class.”
 
The Summit directly addresses the need for Catholic education to be culturally responsive to Hispanic children and families and to move beyond the walls. The demand and need for this Summit is high and timely. This work is a follow up to Dr. Ospino’s well received 2014 National Study of Catholic Parishes with Hispanic Ministry which was highlighted by more than 200 news outlets including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, The National Catholic Reporter, Our Sunday Visitor, Religion News Service, and the Huffington Post. Clearly, there is national interest in how Catholic schools and ministry can better serve Hispanic families. 

Conveners

Patricia Weitzel-O'Neill, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Barbara and Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education, Boston College
Hosffman Ospino, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Hispanic Ministry and Religious Education, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry