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An APPEALing interview with Sister Joan Magnetti
"It's About Reaching Out"
What brought you out of retirement?
Well, for one thing, Bishop Lori asked me. I’m 66, and I don’t see myself sitting around needle pointing (she laughs), though I did just give a needlepoint set to a friend of mine. I’ve always wanted to do something meaningful for inner city kids with my next chunk of time. Our kids in the inner city have tremendous educational needs.
What makes Catholic schools unique?
Catholic schools are a place that opens the eyes of students to a much larger community. The beauty of Catholic schools is that they’re international. When I was at Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich, we built a school in Uganda, and our students learned that you can go into the smallest tribal village in Africa without running water or public sanitations, but there you will see the cross of Christ planted by Catholic missionaries who are building schools and helping to fight AIDS. The children can see that the local Church is part of a much larger global community and that’s an important part of our mission.
It’s clear that inner city parents of all faiths have a great deal of respect for Catholic schools.
Parents who are sending kids to the six Catholic schools in Bridgeport are families that see Catholic schools as a serious alternative to the public school system in Bridgeport. If we have enough financial aid, we can attract those families and children.
Even in the suburbs with great schools system, many parents still turn to Catholic education.
I ran independent Catholic schools in Princeton and Greenwich—two wealthy communities with great school systems—but we had wait lists, because parents wanted the Catholic education for their sons and daughter. They wanted religious instruction, community service projects and a diversity that is often missing in affluent public schools. If we enough financial aid, we can attract these children.
What makes you feel positive about the future of Catholic Schools?
“Well look at it nationally, enrollment is up and people are feeling good about Catholic schools. Time to put the sick old jokes about nuns and rulers behind. If you look back on the history of Catholic education and the immigrants flocking to our shores, you’ll find that what Catholic Schools did for them was extraordinary. The historic achievement is remarkable. Of course, it’s a struggle, but Catholic education is not going to disappear. People continue to invest in it.
When you invest in Catholic schools today, you invest in Catholic education for future generations. One of the best is to
make your pledge to the 2010 Living Our Faith Annual Bishop’s Appeal.
Read more about Sister Joan Magnetti and her appointment as Executive Director of Bridgeport's six Diocesan inner-city schools.
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