A ‘Second Spring’ of Catholic Education

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A ‘Second Spring’ of Catholic Education

St. John Henry Newman trusted Providence. “I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling,” he wrote.

We, too, should have the same confidence. Today, we can see the amazing ways God has blessed faithful Newman Guide Recommended education, and it gives us hope! The Holy Spirit is accomplishing extraordinary things through the work of devoted parents, staff, teachers, and leaders.

Yet the renewal we are seeing unfold today, I believe, is something even more exceptional than the Providence that blesses our everyday labors. We are witnessing the kind of miracle that Newman called a “second spring.”

Today’s Newman Guide movement marks a momentous shift for Catholic education and Catholic life in America! We’ve endured a devastating two-thirds decline of Catholic school enrollment in 60 years. Many colleges abandoned their distinctive Catholic mission and today face obscurity and closure. Catholic fidelity, moral virtue, and basic rationality have declined precipitously… and yet, even so, renewal has taken hold in faithful Newman Guide institutions, and they are enjoying the riches of grace.

We’re witnessing a “Newman moment,” fulfilling the vision for Catholic education that our holy patron gave us 170 years ago. Only now is it coming to fruition in the Newman Guide institutions.

But this sort of renewal — a reversal against the strongest tide of secularism and hostility to Christianity this nation has ever seen — couldn’t come about simply by human effort.

Catholic education was headed rapidly toward oblivion in the United States, only decades after its glorious rise in cities and missions from the Atlantic to the Pacific, forming millions of Catholics in knowledge, moral virtue, prayer, and sacrament. Now, in faithful Newman Guide education, the light of Catholic education shines ever more brightly in a broken society that yearns for truth and hope.

A miraculous springtime

To understand this change — this “second spring” — we turn again to our holy patron and his famous sermon, delivered in 19th-century Victorian England.

For three centuries, the Catholic Church had been suppressed in England. Catholic churches and monasteries were seized, clergy and religious were expelled, and many were martyred across the British Isles. Children had to be sent abroad for Catholic education.

But in 1850, just five years after St. John Henry Newman’s conversion, the Church was finally permitted to restore the English hierarchy. It was at the first new synod of English bishops in 1852 that Newman preached his “Second Spring” sermon.

It begins with an obvious but beautiful analogy between the Church’s rebirth in England and the glories of springtime. Nature, he says, enjoys a cycle of life, death, then rebirth. Yet the human experience — what we think, do, and make — is much different. Both our morality and our works ultimately tend toward dissolution, and even our greatest achievements cannot persist.

It is interesting here to note that this was the same year Newman published Idea of University. It was a very unhappy time, because his great vision for Catholic education had come to naught in the Dublin university he was asked to establish, only to be thwarted by shortsighted bishops. He knew all too well the fragility of human works and the permanence found only in God.

So how, then, asks Newman, can we explain the sudden return of the Church in England after more than 300 years of desolation? The only explanation, he says, is a miracle of God: “a different sort of wonder, for it is in the order of grace,—and who can hope for miracles, and such a miracle as this?”

It is a “second spring” of the sort that could not happen naturally in human affairs. The faithful should respond, then, not with a sense of triumph but with enormous humility, gratitude to God, and renewed devotion to the work that God has clearly blessed.

The coming storm

I firmly believe that what we are experiencing today in the renewal of faithful Catholic education is such a “second spring.” The seeds are just sprouting, but already it is a miraculous intervention of which you and I are blessed to be a part.

The renewal of Catholic education is perhaps the best news in the Church today. Once-stagnant schools and colleges are being reformed and renewed. New, vibrantly faithful schools and colleges are opening. Faithful Catholic homeschooling and hybrid options are booming. And Catholic families around the country are once again embracing Catholic formation.

And how is all of this coming about? Like a “second spring,” by the clear hand of God.

Our holy patron, however, ends his sermon with a warning. Spring brings not just flowers but also storms — sometimes violent storms. Even amid the renewal in England, Newman tells the bishops to expect further persecution and even martyrdom, and he counsels them to welcome it and be grateful, as difficult as it may be.

We can certainly see the storms gathering against Catholic education today. The last many years of fighting for religious freedom may be only skirmishes before the federal government, every state, every accrediting agency, every athletic association, employers, and even our fellow Catholics turn against teachers who uphold the truth of the Catholic faith. The light that faithful graduates bring to a darkened world will be hated by many and perhaps even attacked by some.

What can we do? Trust, says our great saint. God will bring about His miracle, if He wills it. We can place great hope in the blooming of Newman’s vision today, more than a century after his death. And we can unite for both spiritual and material support, strengthening each other and fortifying Newman Guide education against the storms that blow.

Newman concludes his sermon with the assurance “that according to our need, so will be our strength.” He is certain that “the more the enemy rages against us, so much the more will the Saints in Heaven plead for us,” as well as Mother Mary and Angel Guardians. We need only plead with them in prayer.

Saint John Henry Newman, ora pro nobis.

Popular Majors, Sports, and Activities at Newman Guide Colleges

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At a Newman Guide Recommended college, you can receive a faithful Catholic education and…

…major in engineering.

Several colleges combine engineering with a solid liberal arts core curriculum.

“Catholics need to succeed in the sciences to make an impact on the most important developments of our time,” said Dr. Stephen Minnis, president of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. “Students don’t just learn information or a skill—they become the person God wants them to be and the world needs.”

Benedictine College, Catholic Institute of Technology, The Catholic University of America, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Holy Angel University, University of Dallas, University of Mary, University of St. Thomas-Houston, and Walsh University offer programs in engineering.

Both four- and five-year programs are offered.  Some are cooperative or dual degree programs.  Choices include degrees in aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, mechanical, petroleum, and software engineering.

…compete in intercollegiate athletics.

Participating in sports is a great way to grow in mind, body and spirit at a faithful Catholic college.  The recommended colleges offer a wide range of athletic opportunities for students.  Belmont Abbey College, University of Mary, and Walsh University compete at the Division II level of the NCAA.  Colleges that offer Division III athletic programs include The Catholic University of America, Franciscan University of Steubenville, the University of Dallas, and the University of St. Thomas.

Additionally, Ave Maria University and Benedictine College participate in NAIA athletics, and Christendom College is a part of USCAA collegiate athletics. The University of Navara has a “Sports Talent Program” to help athletes manage their academic workload while competing in their sport at a competitive or professional level.

Many colleges also offer club and intramural athletic opportunities.  Some have programs that integrate faith formation and athletics.

…excel in a nursing program.

In a society that does not respect the dignity of all human life, it’s extremely important for Catholic college nursing programs to integrate Church teachings and prepare students for the ethical dilemmas they may face in the workplace.

Not only are Newman Guide Recommended colleges preparing nurses with a grounding in Church teaching, but they are having great success in doing it. For example, 100 percent of the graduates of the University of Mary’s nursing program have passed their NCLEX-RN licensure exam on the first try, several years running.

In addition to the University of Mary, many other Newman Guide colleges have schools of nursing or offer nursing majors, including Ave Maria University, Belmont Abbey College, Benedictine College, The Catholic University of America, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Holy Angel University, University of Dallas, University of Mary, University of St. Thomas in Houston, and Walsh University.

Belmont Abbey College recently allowed Caromont, a local health care system, to build a hospital adjacent to campus. The lease agreement with the Benedictine monastery will ensure that “nothing contrary to the Church’s teaching will be done at the hospital,” says Dr. Heather Ayala, chair of the college’s biology department. Additionally, the partnership will help support the College’s growth in offering health related programs.

Many graduates of other colleges in The Newman Guide that offer a liberal arts education have found success in nursing and other health fields.

…prepare for military service.

Serving our country is a noble calling, and several faithful Catholic colleges help put students on the path for careers in the military.

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is offered at a number of our recommended colleges, sometimes in partnership with other local universities.  ROTC-colleges include Belmont Abbey College, Benedictine College, The Catholic University of America, Franciscan University of Steubenville, University of Dallas, University of St. Thomas-Houston, and Walsh University.

The Marine Corps highlights Thomas Aquinas College and The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts as preparing graduates with the critical thinking skills that are necessary for this profession.

…become a teacher.

Graduates of liberal arts programs at our recommended colleges are not only well-prepared for a teaching career but are also found at the helm of a number of faithful Catholic schools across the country.

Michael Van Hecke says that the liberal arts education at Thomas Aquinas College instilled in him “a love of learning” and a desire to be an educator “to provide joy and hope to younger students.”  Van Hecke is now the headmaster of St. Augustine Academy in Ventura, Calif., which he helped to found.  Grammar, logic and rhetoric serve as “the philosophical basis” of St. Augustine Academy’s educational efforts.

A number of institutions in The Newman Guide provide a liberal arts education, while others prepare students to become teachers through a specific education program.  Many of these stress the critical responsibility that educators have in teaching the faith to students.

“We don’t want just ‘math’ teachers or ‘history’ teachers,” said Dr. Dan Guernsey, who is an associate professor in Ave Maria University’s education department and is a senior fellow at The Cardinal Newman Society. “We want Catholic teachers— teachers of faith and versatility who by their example and commitment can attract their students to the great banquet of knowledge and who themselves have eaten and drunk deeply of all the best that humanity has discovered.”

Education programs are offered at Aquinas College, Ave Maria University, Belmont Abbey College, Benedictine College, The Catholic University of America, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Holy Angel University, University of Dallas, University of Mary, University of Navarra, University of St. Thomas, and Walsh University.

…explore the visual and performing arts.

Taking part in the visual and performing arts is different at a faithful Catholic college, because it’s often designed to help students come to a deeper understanding of the human person as made in the image and likeness of God.

Fine and performing arts majors and minors are available at Ave Maria University, Belmont Abbey College, Benedictine College, The Catholic University of America, Franciscan University of Steubenville, John Paul the Great Catholic University, University of Dallas, University of Mary, University of St. Thomas-Houston, and Walsh University. Wyoming Catholic College has a Fine Arts track.

Additionally, extra-curricular offerings are popular at Newman Guide colleges that offer a liberal arts education.

…study business.

Recent reports indicate that corporate executives increasingly list the liberal arts as a great background for jobs in business.  This is good news for students attending the faithful Catholic colleges recommended in The Newman Guide, many of which challenge students with a rigorous liberal arts curriculum rooted in the Catholic tradition.

Sean Kay, a husband, father of ten, and partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the largest professional services firms in the world, says that he uses the skills he learned during his undergraduate years at Christendom College “much more frequently” than the ones he used in graduate school.

“I love that graduate who has a Catholic, liberal arts perspective, because that individual has a discipline associated with seeking the truth,” says Kay. “They have a set of skills around having a view, articulating that view and defending that view.”

For students looking to major specifically in business, programs are offered at Ave Maria University, Belmont Abbey College, Benedictine College, The Catholic University of America, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Holy Angel University, John Paul the Great Catholic University, University of Dallas, University of Mary, University of St. Thomas, and Walsh University.

Dr. Andrew Abela, founding dean of the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America, believes that Catholic values are directly applicable to a career in business.  “All of business, including accounting and finance, is properly understood to be oriented to serving the human person, whether that person be customer, employee, supplier, investor or neighbor,” he said.

…and so much more.

Continue your search for a faithful Catholic college by reviewing the individual Newman Guide Recommended college profiles.

Ep. 31: Celebrating 50 Years of Seton School – A Legacy of Faithful Catholic Education

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Today, Seton Junior and Senior High School in Manassas, Virginia, celebrates its 50th anniversary. Join us as we continue our discussion with Bob Pennefather and discover how this 7-12 grade school keeps Christ at the center & the Newman Guide as its second apostle.

A Growing Light in the Darkness: Newman Guide Colleges Increase in 2024-25

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LINK TO PRESS RELEASE

Not only do the colleges recommended in The Newman Guide share a common mission of faithful Catholic education, but they also share enormous enrollment growth, with several breaking records this fall. And the number of Newman Guide Recommended colleges is growing, too!

This would be great news for Catholics under any circumstance, but it is especially hopeful when total college enrollment has dropped by nearly 1.5 million students since 2010, and most Catholic colleges continue their tragic secularization. Many Catholic colleges face financial and enrollment challenges, with four closing in 2024—plus the large Staten Island campus of St. John’s University in New York—and three more have signaled closure next year.

Another challenge this year for colleges and especially large Catholic families was the flawed rollout of the new FAFSA. Additionally, the religious freedom of Catholic colleges is under constant threat from the Biden-Harris administration, many states and localities, athletic associations, corporations, and ideological activists.

However, despite this and other challenges, most Newman Guide colleges are attracting students at impressive rates. In fact, three new Newman Guide Recommended colleges opened their doors this year and welcomed students for the first time: the College of St. Joseph the Worker in Steubenville, Ohio, Catholic Institute of Technology in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, and Rosary College in Greenville, S.C.

Here are some highlights of undergraduate enrollment at Newman Guide Recommended colleges for the 2024-25 school year (more will be added as the information becomes available):

  • Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Fla., has a record undergraduate enrollment of 1,326 students and is close to capacity. Undergraduate enrollment has increased 29 percent in the last ten years.
  • Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C., has grown its undergraduate enrollment to 1,597. Undergraduate enrollment has increased about 13 percent in the last ten years.
  • Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., has a record undergraduate enrollment of 2,256 students, an increase of 20 percent in the last ten years. This year’s freshman class is their second-largest ever.
  • Campion College in Toongabbie East, New South Wales, has a record incoming class and has increased to 110 undergraduate students.
  • The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., saw a significant increase in undergraduate applications this year—a trend that has continued over the past few years—and undergraduate enrollment increased to 3,177 students.
  • Catholic International University (online) has increased to 123 undergraduate students, growing 19.5 percent over the last ten years.
  • Christendom College in Front Royal, Va., has a record undergraduate enrollment of 554 and has decided to cap further growth. The College has grown 40 percent over the last decade.
  • Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio, has a record incoming class and total undergraduate enrollment of 3,219. In ten consecutive years of growth, Franciscan has expanded approximately 25 percent.
  • Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn., with many of its students online, has a record freshman class and more than 200 undergraduates. That’s about a four-fold increase from ten years ago.
  • ITI Catholic University in Trumau, Austria, has a record incoming class and record undergraduate enrollment at 58 students.
  • John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, Calif., saw a small increase in this year’s incoming class and has grown 68 percent in the last decade to 288 students.
  • Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, Calif., and Northfield, Mass., has a record enrollment of 565 students between the two campuses. The California campus is close to its capacity of 400 students. The New England campus is nearly halfway to capacity with 193 students. Overall, the College has grown 50 percent in the last ten years.
  • Thomas More College in Merrimack, N.H, saw a small increase in enrollment with 98 undergraduate students.
  • University of Dallas in Irving, Tex., welcomed 395 freshmen, the University’s fifth-largest incoming class, and has a total enrollment of 1,385.
  • University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., has a record freshman class, surpassing last year’s record, and a total enrollment of about 2,400 undergraduate students.
  • University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, has increased to 9,693 undergraduate students, growing about 20 percent in the last ten years.
  • University of St. Thomas in Houston, Tex., has a record incoming class of 683 freshmen and a record undergraduate enrollment of 3,395.
  • Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, welcomed its largest freshman class since 2014 with 508 new undergraduate students and has increased its undergraduate enrollment to 1,555.
  • Wyoming Catholic College in Lander, Wyo., has grown 30 percent in the last decade, from 124 to 178 students.

Ep. 30: Seton School in Manassas, VA – First junior/senior high school to become Newman Guide Recommended

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Join us as we sit down with Bob Pennefather, director of Seton Junior/Senior High School, to discuss Seton’s remarkable journey as one of the first 7-12 schools to become Newman Guide Recommended. Founded by Mrs. Anne Carroll in 1975, the year of Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton’s canonization, Seton School is a private, co-educational school. Discover how Seton has made the Catholic faith a priority and how the Newman Guide Recommended process deepened their commitment to authentically Catholic education.

Ep. 29: Christendom College – New president and his vision for continuing “to restore all things in Christ”

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Join us as we sit down with Dr. George Harne, the new president of Christendom College, to explore his vision for the future of this thriving Newman Guide college. Learn about his path to the presidency, Christendom’s mission to restore all things in Christ, and the exciting plans to build on the college’s rich foundation. Discover how Christendom continues to form students intellectually, spiritually, and socially in a deeply Catholic environment. 

CNS Joins Amicus Brief to Uphold Catholic School Access to Funding – St. Dominic Academy v Maine, 1st Circuit

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St. Dominic Academy, a Catholic school in the diocese of Portland, Maine is challenging state officials for denying it otherwise available access to state tuition programs because of the school’s religious character and exercise.

Click here to access the amicus brief PDF.

Ep. 28: Wyoming Catholic College – Exploring Deeper into Outdoor Renewal and Faithful Learning

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Rejoin Kyle Washut, president of Wyoming Catholic College, as he delves further into their distinctive educational model. This session highlights the deeper integration of outdoor experiences within their academic framework and discusses innovative strategies for student debt reduction, demonstrating a profound commitment to forming both mind and soul.

Ep. 27: Sacred Music in Action: Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka on Teaching and Forming Musicians

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More with Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka as she shares the practical steps for teaching sacred music and forming the next generation of Catholic musicians. 

Ep. 26: Reviving Sacred Music: Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka on the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music

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Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, founding director of the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music. Explore how this unique institute is equipping musicians and educators with the knowledge and skills to revitalize sacred music in parishes and schools. Discover the profound impact of sacred music on Catholic worship and how it can bring renewed vitality to the faith.