Pope Francis has referred to the Church as a field hospital for the vulnerable: “The thing the Church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the Church as a field hospital after battle. … Heal the wounds, heal the wounds.”
In the last four years, I have come to see Catholic schools as outposts of that field hospital. All children are vulnerable in some way – so are adults. It is our nature as human beings. In today’s world, tempers seem to be shorter, accusations quicker and judgments harsher. Children and teens have always faced “battles” as they grow and develop, but they seem more drawn out with stakes higher than they have ever been. Even school can be seen as a battleground of academic and social challenges.
Catholic schools recognize the battles and the wounds they produce, and Catholic schools prioritize the person. Parents choose Catholic schools because they know that in Catholic schools, children are loved first and taught second. This does not mean that academics are “second place” in a Catholic school. Rather, academics, discipline, safety, sportsmanship, and all of the values and virtues that distinguish Catholic schools rest first on a shared understanding that the love of God heals our brokenness and vulnerability. When children know that they are loved, they can thrive.
The children who are most vulnerable academically, emotionally or socially are often among the most vulnerable financially, too. Catholic schools should be available as field hospitals for them, even if the tuition proves challenging for their parents to afford. Many states offer a form of parental choice, supporting parents who thoughtfully and prayerfully choose a Catholic school with public funds to help defer costs. New Jersey is not yet among those states, so parents who seek a Catholic education for their children here rely on scholarships and tuition assistance to make up the difference.
The South Jersey Scholarship Fund (SJSF) is a critical lifeline to financially vulnerable children and families across South Jersey. Scholarships funded by SJSF allow over 100 students each year to access a “field hospital” where they know they are loved and can thrive academically, spiritually and in service to others. That amounts to a combined 18,000 days – 120,000 hours – of immersion in a Catholic elementary or high school environment.
Our goal is for Catholic schools to be available, accessible and affordable for all students, regardless of their vulnerabilities – financial or otherwise. Contributions to the South Jersey Scholarship Fund help move us toward that life-changing goal, one student at a time. I am deeply grateful to all of the donors who have contributed financially to the South Jersey Scholarship Fund over the years, as are the students and families their support has assisted. If you have not yet done so, I ask that you consider a donation as part of your giving this year as the Spring Sprint for Scholarships gets underway. Visit southjerseycatholicschools.org/springsprint.
Please pray for all of the children served in the field hospitals we call Catholic schools – and for the women and men who care for them every day.
Dr. Bill Watson is superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Camden.
Help Students Thrive!
Thanks to generous donors, the South Jersey Scholarship Fund provided more than $100,000 in scholarships for 105 students to continue their Catholic education in the Diocese of Camden for the 2022-23 school year.
However, families are still in need of support. In fact, more than 50% of local Catholic school
families demonstrate a financial need. That’s where the Spring Sprint for Scholarships comes in. From now to July 1, the SJSF is looking to raise $50,000 to help South Jersey’s children receive a high-quality education that exceeds national and state curriculum standards. These students mature into adults who understand the importance of service, faith and family.
Make a positive impact on the future of our communities!
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