Diocese launches Mother Cabrini Maine Catholic Education Initiative

The Diocese of Portland has launched an initiative aimed at building the reign of God through education. The Mother Cabrini Maine Catholic Education Initiative, which is funded by a generous private donation, includes support for current Catholic schools, augmenting homeschooling resources, teacher training and formation, and the establishment of two Cabrini Catholic high schools: Frassati Classical Catholic High School in Brewer, named for newly canonized St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, and Seton Classical Catholic High School in Brunswick, named for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

The two small high schools, which will be located in existing parish buildings, will offer an integrated classical curriculum aimed at not only teaching traditional subjects, such as history and science, but in promoting spiritual growth and critical thinking skills. The schools will seek to educate not only for knowledge but for wisdom, not only for personal achievement but for communion. As Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first U.S. citizen to be canonized, wrote, teaching should be something that “educates the heart and forms character.” The two new high schools, which will open next fall, will seek to form students who are fully alive in Christ so that they may think, act, and love with the mind and heart of the Church.

As part of the Mother Cabrini Maine Catholic Education Initiative, existing Catholic schools in the diocese have transitioned to a new common religion curriculum. In addition, civics instruction has been implemented for Grade 4, and several middle schools have adopted a classical pedagogical approach to teaching, with new curriculum resources in English/Language Arts (ELA), Social Studies, and Latin. All eight schools also received $50,000 for individual school needs such as tuition assistance, new curriculum development, and new positions.

With the inception of the Cabrini initiative, the diocese has offered programming for teachers and principals, including a retreat this past summer at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, which was facilitated by representatives from the Institute for the Transformation of Catholic Education at The Catholic University of America. The mission of the institute is to advance the distinctive excellence of Catholic education as a gift for each person and for society.

“Catholic education is at the heart of the Church’s mission,” said Bishop James Ruggieri. “Through our schools, homeschooling, and catechesis, we are forming disciples, strengthening families, and building up a culture of life, truth, and charity through sound teaching, spiritual depth, and communal support.”

As part of the initiative, a grant program has also been initiated to offer financial support for homeschool families and cooperatives. And the diocese launched a backpack program. All students in Catholic schools and homeschool programs will receive an L.L. Bean backpack with supplies, rosary beads, and a guide for praying the Rosary.