Chicago, IL (February 21, 2007)—On Monday, February 26, Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, and Catholic bishops from all six Illinois’ dioceses, will join over 300 educators for a first-of-its-kind summit to envision the future of Illinois Catholic elementary and secondary schools.

The daylong summit is in response to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ 2005 pastoral letter, Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium.

The summit will be held at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center, 10 Brickyard Dr., Bloomington, and is sponsored by the Catholic Conference of Illinois and participating dioceses.

Key topics to be discussed include: ensuring that Catholic schools remain available and accessible in the future; establishing that the financing of Catholic schools is the responsibility of all Catholics through a renewed focus on the spirituality of stewardship; and advocating for Catholic schools through political action on the state and federal levels.

The Illinois bishops scheduled to attend along with Cardinal George are: Most Rev. Edward K. Braxton, Diocese of Belleville; Most Rev. Thomas G. Doran, Diocese of Rockford; Most Rev. Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C., Diocese of Peoria; Most Rev. George J. Lucas, Diocese of Springfield; and Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain, Diocese of Joliet.

Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., President of Loyola University Chicago will begin the summit with an 8:30 a.m. keynote address. At 9:45 a.m., a 90-minute discussion session will take place followed by an 11:15 a.m. Sacred Liturgy that Cardinal George will concelebrate with five Illinois bishops. Peoria’s Bishop Jenky will deliver the homily. At 12:15 p.m., the Cardinal will address the summit’s attendees, and at 1:30 p.m., the bishops will engage in a 90-minute panel discussion. Concluding the summit will be an hour-long discussion and summary session scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.

Nicholas M. Wolsonovich, Ph.D. Superintendent, Office of Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of Chicago, will be available for interviews throughout the summit on February 26.

To arrange for an interview, contact:
Ryan Blackburn Director of School Communications and Marketing
Archdiocese of Chicago
312-751-5334 (office)
312-404-7264 (mobile)