One Year Later, Newman’s Vision for Catholic Education Is a Call to Action
One year ago, something wonderful happened for Catholic education and the entire Church.
On All Saints’ Day 2025, Pope Leo XIV stood in St. Peter’s Square and formally proclaimed St. John Henry Cardinal Newman a Doctor of the Church.
He’s now one of just 38 saints recommended to the Faithful for his extraordinary holiness and eminence in doctrine!
And during that same celebration, The Cardinal Newman Society’s patron was named the universal Patron of Catholic Education with St. Thomas Aquinas.
I was in Rome for the historic celebration—where I prayed through Newman’s intercession for The Cardinal Newman Society’s members and for our important work to promote and defend faithful Catholic education.
Newman’s intercession is needed more than ever as Catholic families face a world that is “simply irreligious”—just as Newman predicted.
For more than three decades, The Cardinal Newman Society has looked to Newman as our patron. His vision of faithful Catholic education is the inspiration for our mission.
And now the universal Church has placed an extraordinary seal of approval on the wisdom and witness of the saint whose mission we are privileged to carry on.
But this anniversary is about much more than honoring Newman.
It is a call to action.
Pope Leo said something that day that beautifully summarizes our ultimate goal:
“Education helps everyone to become saints. Nothing less will do.”
The ultimate purpose of Catholic education is not to prepare a young person for a career and worldly success.
A good education will do that, for sure. But the highest priority is forming the whole person—in intellect, character, virtue, and faith—to know and love Jesus Christ and strive for holiness.
That is Newman’s vision.
And that is the vision our members help advance every day through their prayers and support to:
- expand The Newman Guide recommendations for faithful education,
- warn families about counterfeit Catholic education, and
- defend the religious freedom of Catholic educators.
The Church did not simply recognize a great man last year. She lifted up for the whole world a saint who proclaims the enormous value of education to form the human person in truth.
