​Share the mission of giving hope!

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Catholic News Agency

Share the mission of giving hope!

Proudly, Hope for the Future, has awarded more than $23 million in tuition assistance to more than 18,000 children in the Archdiocese of San Antonio who are pursuing a Catholic school education. This dream is becoming a reality for more students because of the generosity of supporters whose prayers, time and treasure both exemplify and promote the mission of Catholic schools.

Archbishop José H. Gomez and community leaders established Hope for the Future 12 years ago as a resource for donors to give eligible families tuition assistance to send their children to an archdiocesan Catholic school. “Catholic education is not only the best option, but also the most natural one for our Catholic community. The goal of Catholic education is to assist parents in the formation of their children in moral and academic excellence,” said Archbishop Gomez upon the establishment of Hope for the Future.

Founding board member Rosemary Kowalski said, “Catholic school education is important because it allows a student to learn and explore their faith daily through classes and activities … It has helped me keep Jesus in the center of my life. Of course we can’t talk about Catholic Schools without the word ‘money’ and that is why the Hope for the Future organization is so important to have these past 12 years and still helping so many families with the assistance needed to send their children to a Catholic institution.”

Rosemary and many others who helped start Hope for the Future are still involved with the efforts to raise both funds and awareness. Since taking leadership of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSPS, has been the strongest supporter of Hope for the Future’s mission.

In reflecting about Catholic Schools Week, Archbishop Gustavo said, “Catholic education is central to the mission of the Catholic Church. It is not an option of service, but a commitment to integrate the Gospel into every part of the human experience. When we speak of Catholic identity in our schools, we are referring to the merging of academic disciplines with Catholic teaching and Catholic values. Catholic schools exist to light the passion for learning in our children, but even more importantly, to fan the fire of faith in their hearts. While academic excellence establishes a positive foundation, encountering Christ and applying the faith to all aspects of life are lessons that will endure in our children. Your support of Hope for the Future gives encouragement to our families and our students, but also to our administration and teachers. Pope Francis puts into a meaningful and faithful context the true value of a quality education when he stated; ‘Education cannot be neutral. It is either positive or negative; either it enriches or it impoverishes; either it enables a person to grow or it lessens, even corrupts him. The mission of schools is to develop a sense of truth, of what is good and beautiful.’ This is the true value of a Catholic education.”

“We are so grateful for the support the San Antonio community gives Hope for the Future. On behalf of the archdiocese, thank you to all our sponsors, supporters, board and committee members,” said Amy Hone, Hope for the Future director.

For more information on Hope for the Future or to donate visit www.hopeforfuture.org or call (210) 734-1963.