Archdiocese increases Catholic school funding despite economy

Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

Spanish teacher Rebecca DeLegaretta worked with third-graders at St. Frances Cabrini Academy in South St. Louis, giving instructions for a game in Spanish. Financial support from the archdiocese allows the school to provide many educational opportunities, including foreign languages.

The Archdiocese of St. Louis provided more than $14.2 million in aid to Catholic education in the 2009 calendar year, an increase of $700,000 over the previous year, despite the poor economy.

George Henry, superintendent of Catholic education, credited the funding increase to the "generosity of the Catholic community." The increase came from donations to the Annual Catholic Appeal and a boost in assistance from the Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation. Funding also comes from stewardship efforts by parishes for Catholic education.