ach year we as a Diocese seek to help those who cannot otherwise afford the cost of a Catholic education, by granting “need based” scholarships through the St. Mary’s Education Fund. Without these scholarships many of our students would not be able to enjoy the benefits of Catholic education. Since 1995 over 6,000 children in our elementary and middle schools have been awarded over $6 million dollars in “need based” scholarship aid.

The primary value of Catholic education is that it assists parents in the all-important task of the faith formation of their children. There are many things that are important to learn in life, including all of the traditional components of a typical academic curriculum. The most important thing for a young person to learn, however, is what God has revealed to the world.

Of all of the lessons we learn in life, none is more important than the lessons Christ taught us about how to live. Our young people learn these lessons in our Catholic schools. As our society and culture are increasingly secularized, it is in our Catholic schools that the Christian faith is protected, preserved, and passed on to the next generation.

On behalf of literally hundreds of families and students in need, I ask for your support of the St. Mary’s Education Fund. Their experience of a Catholic education will no doubt shape their lives, and they in turn will help to shape the future of the Church.

	Sincerely yours in the Lord,
	Bishop of Fall River