Catholic Schools Visioning Process

A Message from Bishop Cantú

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Catholic schools are a vital expression of the Church’s mission in the Diocese of San José. Through them, children and young people encounter Jesus Christ, grow in faith, pursue academic excellence, and are formed to serve others with love and integrity. I am deeply grateful to the pastors, principals, teachers, staff, and families who dedicate themselves daily to this ministry.

As a diocese, we are working to implement our pastoral plan, Renewed in Christ, Together in Mission, which calls us to profound spiritual renewal. This renewal must take root in every part of our diocesan life—including our Catholic schools. For that reason, we are beginning a Catholic Schools Visioning Process to prayerfully discern how our schools can best serve the mission of the Church today and into the future.

This will be a time of listening, reflection, and shared responsibility. We will ask important questions about evangelization, Catholic identity, leadership, academic excellence, and long-term vitality. We will do so without fear, guided by faith, trusting that the Holy Spirit continues to lead our local Church.

I invite all who care about Catholic education—pastors, educators, families, and parish communities—to pray for this process and to participate generously when invited. This includes parishioners whose children attend public school or are homeschooled. Our schools belong to the whole diocese.

As we journey toward our 50th Diocesan Jubilee in 2031, which coincides with the 500th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s appearance to Juan Diego, we ask for her intercession. May we, like her, be instruments of renewal and evangelization for the next generation.

Together, may we renew our commitment to forming young disciples and strengthening our schools for generations to come.

Most Reverend Oscar Cantú
Bishop of San José

What Is the Catholic Schools Visioning Process?

This is a year-long journey to discern priorities for the 26 diocesan Catholic elementary and high schools in the Diocese of San José. Building on the foundation of our pastoral plan, Renewed in Christ, Together in Mission, and Bishop Cantú’s vision for Catholic education, we invite the entire diocesan community to help shape how our schools can best serve the mission of forming faithful Catholics and servant leaders for generations to come.

Catholic schools in the Diocese of San José serve families from many cultures, speak many languages, and face the unique pressures of Silicon Valley. This process must account for who our families are today.

We invite participation from:

  • Parents and guardians
  • Teachers and staff
  • Students and alumni
  • Pastors, priests, chaplains, and campus ministers
  • Parishioners across the diocese

Our schools serve not only those currently enrolled, but the entire diocese. Parishioners whose children or grandchildren attend public school or are homeschooled are equally welcome to participate.

Why Are We Doing This Now?

Our pastoral plan, Renewed in Christ, Together in Mission, did not shy away from the challenges facing our local Church: declining enrollment, financial pressures at many parishes and schools, and a world that looks very different than it did even a decade ago.

At the same time, our schools remain among the most powerful ways we form young people in faith. We need a clear vision—one that addresses our challenges honestly while charting a hopeful path forward.

Looking Toward 2031

As we journey toward the 50th Jubilee of our diocese in 2031—which coincides with the 500th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s appearance to San Juan Diego—we wish to renew every dimension of diocesan life, including Catholic education.

How Will the Process Unfold?

Spring 2026: Data Collection & Surveys

We will gather information about the current state of our schools and seek input from all stakeholders through surveys.

Spring 2026: Listening Sessions

Across the diocese, we will hold conversations where parents, teachers, staff, students, pastors, priests, chaplains, campus ministers, alumni, and parishioners can share their experiences and hopes.

September 2026: Assembly

Delegates will gather to discern and finalize priorities together, following the model of our Diocesan Synod General Assembly.

Late Fall 2026: Final Strategy Document

A plan with clear priorities to guide our Catholic schools into the future.

Our Guiding Principles

As we begin this visioning process, we ground our work in shared principles. These reflect Bishop Cantú’s vision for Catholic education and flow from our pastoral plan, Renewed in Christ, Together in Mission.

  1. Catholic schools are essential to the life of our diocese.

The future of the Diocese of San José will include Catholic schools. They are among the most powerful ways we pass on the Faith to our children—in every subject, in every interaction, in every part of the school day. Schools and parishes are intimately connected; the health of one affects the other. We are committed to ensuring our schools continue to flourish.

  1. We are open to examining how our schools are organized and supported.

As long as schools continue and these guiding principles are honored, we are open to exploring new approaches to organization, governance, and funding. Our pastoral plan calls us to build sustainable structures in service of our mission. We approach this work with creativity and openness to where the Holy Spirit leads.

  1. What serves all our schools must guide our decisions.

The identity of each school matters. But we must also think about what is best for Catholic education across the diocese. We have 26 diocesan Catholic elementary and high schools, and an additional 7 independent Catholic schools in Santa Clara County. The decisions we make should strengthen the whole system, not just the schools that are already thriving.

  1. Catholic education should be within reach of every family who seeks it.

All children deserve the opportunity to receive a Catholic education, regardless of their economic circumstances, where they live, or their background. Our schools exist to catechize, evangelize, and educate. Education and evangelization go hand in hand. Significant work must be done to make them accessible.

  1. We need clear relationships among schools, parishes, and the diocese.

To serve our families well, we must be clear about how schools, parishes, and the diocese work together. Who is responsible for what? How are decisions made? How does communication flow? Our pastoral plan calls for strong partnerships among parishes, schools, ministries, and organizations.

  1. We must address financial sustainability and just compensation.

The financial health of our schools requires attention. Parish support, tuition, fundraising, and diocesan assistance all need examination. Our pastoral plan is clear: those who serve in our schools deserve just compensation, and much has been done in recent years for our Catholic schools in this regard. We continue to be committed to this goal.

  1. Our schools must be rooted in Catholic identity and academic excellence.

A Catholic school that does not offer a quality education will not survive. A school that is Catholic in name only does not serve our mission. Our schools need to nurture intellectual growth, emotional well-being, moral character, and a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

  1. We will listen before we act.

The synodal process that shaped our pastoral plan taught us that the Holy Spirit speaks through the People of God. This visioning process will include surveys, listening sessions, and an assembly where we discern together. We want to hear from parents, teachers, staff, students, pastors, priests, chaplains, campus ministers, alumni, and parishioners. All voices and perspectives matter.

  1. Healthy schools and healthy parishes grow together.

Schools and parishes cannot be separated. When schools struggle, parishes feel it. When parishes step back from their schools, everyone suffers. Our pastoral plan envisions all families—whether their children attend Catholic school, public school, or are homeschooled—as active participants in parish life.

  1. We undertake this work with hope.

In 2031, we will celebrate the 50th Jubilee of our diocese, which coincides with the 500th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s appearance in the Americas. That historic message of Mary set in motion an extraordinary wave of evangelization. We trust that the same Holy Spirit who guided that renewal is with us now, leading our local Church into a future filled with hope and grace.

How Can I Participate?

All members of our diocesan family are invited to participate. You can get involved by:

Praying  for This Process – Ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we discern the future of Catholic schools together.
Sharing Your Perspective – Talk with your pastor, principal, or parish leadership about your hopes for Catholic education.
Completing Online Surveys – Share your thoughts through our diocesan-wide survey when it is distributed in Spring 2026.