For more than 140 years, St. Mary’s High School has persevered in its mission to form young men and women who are prepared not only for college and careers, but more importantly, for lives of faith, service, and leadership. As we begin the academic year, our school is excited to welcome new leadership with renewed focus on helping our students draw closer to Christ and pursue their God-given purpose in life.
 

As a young priest serving a parish, Norbertine Father Sebastian Walshe initiated monthly “ask anything” sessions. One question popped up again and again: “How, after 12 years of Catholic schools, could my child elect to no longer practice the Catholic faith?” According to Pew Research Center data, the vast majority of Americans who leave their childhood religion do so before the age of 30, and Catholicism experiences the highest rate of attrition among major religious groups in the U.S.; for every one person who joins the Catholic Church, eight people leave it.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Catholic education in the Diocese of Colorado Springs is more than a school choice, it is an invitation into a way of life rooted in faith, excellence, and purpose. Centered in the person of Jesus Christ, our Catholic schools exist to form not only strong students, but strong disciples, compassionate leaders, and faithful citizens prepared to serve both Church and society. From the earliest years, students are invited into a journey that begins in wonder and leads to wisdom.

On Feb. 5, 1918, Spencer Penrose, who was in the midst of building the Broadmoor Hotel, wrote a letter to Bishop J. H. Tihen of Denver, indicating that his wife, Julie Penrose, was “anxious” to build a small Catholic chapel near the hotel. He enclosed proposed drawings for the chapel and indicated it would be built on land donated by the Broadmoor. He estimated the cost would be between $10,000 and $15,000. Bishop Tihen approved, as long as the property was controlled by the church, and by September the project was underway. On Sept. 5, 1918, noted local architect Thomas MacLaren sent the bishop blueprints for the new chapel.

As we conclude our celebration of Independence Day, I would like to reflect on the enduring and, indeed, increasingly crucial role that Catholic education plays in our society. While often viewed through a narrow lens, a deeper examination reveals its profound impact — an impact rooted in both faith and civic responsibility, and not dissimilar in spirit to the transformative vision that underpinned Abraham Lincoln’s land-grant colleges such as Colorado State University.