It’s September and that means that school is open again. Bells sounding. Children’s voices on the playground. A parade of cars in the morning and afternoon as parents drop off and pick up their children.

For us as Catholics, the reopening of school in the Diocese of Rockford, in our 39 elementary schools and six diocesan high schools means even more. It signals the renewal of our work to form the faith of future saints.

Constant prayer, inculcating the understanding and love for our Catholic identity, Mass, confession, exercising good morals and love for the poor ... these are just some of what accompanies the academic excellence in Catholic schools.

It’s no secret that our Catholic schools, like virtually every school, private or public, are facing significant challenges. For some time now, enrollments have been declining significantly in many schools.

The past two years have seen a decline of nearly 1,100 students out of the total of 13,000 in our diocesan Catholic schools. That continues a trend going back a number of years.

There are various reasons for the declining enrollments.

First and foremost, they reflect the widespread demographic trends in our country and in the Church. Sadly, fewer young people are getting married, and those who do marry are having fewer children. We are increasingly an aging society.

Further, studies show that there is a diminished appreciation for the value of Catholic education in Catholic families today relative to the past.

There are also other factors, such as the cost of Catholic tuition and the presence of many aging facilities.

The result of the declining enrollment has been increasing financial pressures on parishes supporting schools, and pressures on the schools themselves to continue offering the standards of excellence for which Catholic education is known even with dwindling resources.

To meet this challenge, the Diocese of Rockford undertook a two-year study to prepare a strategic plan for the future of our Catholic schools.

That plan has resulted in the Faith Forward initiative which seeks to stabilize and strengthen Catholic education for the future by addressing modern trends in enrollment and educational offerings.

Currently, in Aurora, Elgin, Rockford and McHenry pastors, principals, parish council members, education commission and parish and school finance council members, as well as school parents, have been meeting regularly to develop plans tailored to the needs and strengths of parishes and schools in their particular areas.

Those conversations are currently focused on facility and financial assessments of each school in order to examine ways of combining resources and obligations.

The groups are also very focused on identifying ways to enhance the educational program so that our children continue to have a strong foundation in the Catholic faith and the skills necessary for success in an ever demanding world.

They are also investigating ways to maintain an affordable tuition while offering a quality Catholic education.

Taken together, the goal of this work is to continue to offer truly Catholic education that prepares future saints for witness and work in the world. It seeks to emphasize our shared commitment to Catholic education while helping to relieve the financial burden experienced in many parishes with schools.

I am grateful for the efforts being undertaken. The problems of finances and declining enrollments have been building for quite some time. Many other dioceses find themselves in exactly the same situation. There is a great deal of experience and wisdom to consult as we go forward.

I ask your prayers to accompany this work which, between planning and implementation, is likely to carry on for the next several years. The change it envisions is exciting.

But change is never easy. That is especially true when a parish school structure has been in place for many decades and has influenced the lives of families and parish communities.

The ultimate reason for Catholic schools comes down to one thing: giving our children the formation and support that they need to get to heaven at the end of this life.

The future of Catholic education is both exciting and challenging. But given what is at stake, it is worth all of the effort. Thanks to all involved in Faith Forward.