• Home
  • Tip of the Week
  • Breaking News
  • Member Spotlight
• Who We Are
  • NCNWR Regions
  • Leadership/Board
  • Member Sites
  • Corporate Members
• Join Us
  • Membership Levels
  • Membership Application
  • Downloadable Brochure
• Conference
  • Upcoming Conference
  • First Time?
  • Registration
  • Photos
• News
  • Press Releases
  • From the Board
  • From the Regions
• Contact Us
• Member Login

• News
• Press Releases
• From the Board
• From the Regions


NCNWR 16th Annual Conference 
SEPTEMBER 21-24, 2010
FIND OUT MORE>

News

Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and Cristo Rey Board Approve New Model of Secondary Education

December 30, 2008
Region 6

DELHI TOWNSHIP, OHIO, December 30, 2008 -- The New Year, 2009, signals the 200th anniversary of the founding of the American Sisters of Charity by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in 1809 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Tracing their heritage back to Elizabeth Seton, the foundress of the American Catholic School system, the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati sponsor two educational institutions, Seton High School and the College of Mount St. Joseph. Now after a one-year feasibility study, the Sisters of Charity and the Cristo Rey Network Board of Directors have approved a new model of secondary education in Cincinnati. The newly approved Cristo Rey high school will offer extraordinary opportunities for economically disadvantaged high school students to afford a college preparatory education.

The Cristo Rey (which means “Christ the King” in Spanish) model provides for students to attend school four days per week and work one day per week in a local business, earning more than 70 percent of their tuition. This work component uniquely enriches the students’ education by engaging them in learning environments that they normally would not experience.

Established in 1996 by the Chicago Province of Jesuits on the Southside of Chicago, Ill., Cristo Rey Jesuit High School set the standards for an innovative work-study curriculum. This school model is being propagated across the country by leadership in the Cristo Rey Network, which is funded in large part by the Cassin Educational Initiative Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Currently there are 22 Cristo Rey schools throughout the United States educating 4,234 students from diverse backgrounds, races and religions. Ninety-eight percent of the graduates continue on to college.

The Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati feasibility study evaluated local demographic, educational, and logistical data as well as the opinions of community leaders to assess the needs of the community. The study coordinator, Sister Catherine Kirby, interviewed local school, church and community leaders, as well as middle-school students and their parents in order to gauge interest for the proposal. Results of the survey showed that 78 percent of the 350 students surveyed would like to attend a Cristo Rey high school. Ninety-five percent of the 165 parents surveyed would send their child to a Cristo Rey high school. In addition, more than 200 religious, community, education and business leaders have expressed a strong interest in making this a collaborative effort.

“Everyone in the [Sisters of Charity] Community had input into the decision to start a Cristo Rey school,” said Sister Barbara Hagedorn, President of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. She added, “The Sisters gave their overwhelming support and commitment to this endeavor. It continues our legacy from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton of daring to risk a caring response.”

Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk approved the establishment of the school in the Archdiocese and stated, “I believe the Cristo Rey school would serve a school populace that is in need of service here as elsewhere,” and offered to help carry the project forward.

As assistant coordinator of the feasibility study, David Deye of Deye Enterprises, assessed the potential for the Corporate Work Study Program, which requires entry-level clerical jobs for the students. In the local business community, 26 companies have signed letters of intent to become a Corporate Work Study Partner. Twenty-one foundations have expressed an interest; a substantial lead gift to support the development of a Cristo Rey high school in Cincinnati has been secured. 

The local Cristo Rey advisory board is currently researching site facilities for the new high school to open in 2010, as well as seeking applicants for a president and a principal to head the school beginning mid-2009.

For more information, contact Sister Catherine Kirby, S.C., Cristo Rey Coordinator, Sisters of Charity, 5900 Delhi Road, Mount St. Joseph, Ohio 45051, (513) 921-2839, sckirby@juno.com. For more information about the Cristo Rey Network, visit www.cristoreynetwork.org.

Contact: Donata Glassmeyer, Director of Communications
513.347.5466
donata.glassmeyer@srcharitycinti.org

The Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, whose Motherhouse is located in Delhi Township, a western suburb of Cincinnati, is an apostolic Catholic women’s religious community that exists to carry out the Gospel of Jesus Christ through service and prayer in the world. Sisters, using their professional talents as ministers of education, health care, pastoral and social services, currently live and minister in 17 U.S. states and in Guatemala and Mexico. They also sponsor institutions to address education, health care and social service needs, with particular concern for direct service to the poor. One hundred seventy two Associates join more than 456 Sisters in their mission.

Visit the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Web site at www.srcharitycinti.org