Niagara University hosted more than 200 educators and stakeholders from Western New York Catholic elementary schools, high schools, and colleges at the Diocesan Department of Catholic Schools’ Education Summit, Nov. 10, 2022. The discussion was focused on working through ideas and issues and collaborating on possible solutions on how to make their schools more sustainable.
Following Mass in the university’s Alumni Chapel, the attendees gathered in the Russell J. Salvatore Dining Commons for the full-day event. The Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., Niagara University president, welcomed them, and the Most Rev. Michael W. Fisher, Bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, offered his remarks.
“Our schools are still places where our faith is celebrated and the truth of our faith and who we are as human beings is proclaimed,” Bishop Fisher said. “Those who I am particularly grateful to are our teachers and administrators in our schools. Your vocation and your ministry is vital to the success of our students and the work that we do here in our diocese. We have to come together to seek solutions on how we move forward with the mission of Catholic education.”
After Dr. Tim Uhl, superintendent of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Buffalo, set the stage for the discussion by sharing the trends and demographics that are impacting the diocese, keynote speaker Dr. Kevin Baxter, director of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program, discussed the challenges and opportunities facing Catholic schools today, offered suggestions and insights to guide the attendees as they plan for the sustainable growth of their schools, and reminded them that they needed to exhibit the joy of their vocation to their students, their teachers, and their parents every day.