Our Catholic schools in the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey will begin their new school year as the diocese and Universal Church continue to the Jubilee Year of Hope with great excitement and affirmation, affirming their status as schools of academic excellence and discipleship. Our schools are dedicated to the Church’s teaching mission. They honor our mission that provides for the total development of the whole child.
As such, we affirm the mission of Catholic schools based on core values which encompass the following:
- We promote academic excellence rooted in Gospel values. A quality Catholic education produces Church and national leaders for tomorrow who are sensitive to the needs of the entire family.
- We foster a climate of collaborative ministry, manifesting the belief that every person is gifted and called to serve.
- We strive to identify and share the gifts of all members of the community. We assist our administrators in their schools by fostering personal and professional growth.
- We instill a spirit of mutual accountability in which local leaders accept their responsibility of stewardship.
- We commit ourselves to seeing new and effective ways to strengthen and sustain the future of Catholic education.
Our principals are servant leaders, firm in their faith and convictions to lead our schools in times of challenge as well as times of celebration. Our schools thrive with a spirit of unity and shared vision. We walk forward knowing God is beside us as we continue to lead our schools. All those who minister in the schools feel privileged to be a part of the students’ lives as they are formed, informed, and transformed by a Catholic education.
Our schools move forward to support the building of community and relationships, and help others understand and value our mission and call to holiness. We continue to work with our schools on marketing, fiscal management, continuous improvement, strategic planning, and, of paramount importance, their safety and well-being.
As the saying goes, “Nothing good and lasting ever comes without effort and sacrifice.” That is certainly true of our Catholic schools. We know that parents share our concerns for their children: a safe place to attend school with a quality education and shared values that embody the message of Jesus. We have a continued commitment to our children that a Catholic education is life-long and life eternal.
We applaud and acknowledge our principals, teachers, support staff, along with our parents and guardians, for their partnership in providing a Catholic education for the children of the Paterson Diocese.
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We thank and will continue to pray for our Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, as well as our priests and religious, along with benefactors and the Tri-County Scholarship Fund, under the leadership of Prudence Pigott and its board, for all their assistance to our schools.
Thank you to every person for believing in our work. Together, let us proclaim one of the greatest success stories we have — our Catholic schools!
The doors of our Catholic schools will soon welcome thousands of students from our diocese. Many preparations, plans, and visions were formulated to begin this new school year. What follows are thoughts from the administrators of each of our diocesan schools.
MORRIS COUNTY
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Boonton
For the 2025 — 26 school year, we expect Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and Lumen Gentium Academy, also in Boonton, N.J., to continue deepening their mission as classical Catholic schools, forming students in wisdom and virtue. We anticipate that our faculty will work with renewed purpose, drawing from the riches of our tradition to cultivate truth, goodness, and beauty in every classroom. We will strengthen our partnership with parents, recognizing them as the primary educators of their children, and support them in raising young people whose lives are ordered toward God. We expect our students to grow not only in knowledge, but in their capacity to live as disciples of Christ, serving others generously.
We will continue to nurture a culture where intellectual rigor is paired with joy, wonder, and gratitude. We will further unite students across grade levels, fostering leadership, healthy competition, and a sense of belonging. We also expect to build on our recent successes in the arts, athletics, and service initiatives, integrating them into our broader mission of formation. Above all, we pray that this year will be marked by God’s grace, enabling every member of our school community to flourish and thrive.
St. Patrick School, Chatham
As we begin this new school year, the St. Patrick School community embraces the spiritual theme of “Come, Follow Me,” which calls us to walk in the footsteps of Jesus through acts of kindness, compassion, and service. Let this year be one where we strive to serve one another as he did — through humility, love, and action. We pray for the health, happiness, and success of all our students, faculty, and families. May the blessings and good fortune of St. Patrick be with us throughout the year, especially as we welcome and support our new pastor, Father Peter Glabik, on this journey.
St. Vincent Martyr School, Madison
As St. Vincent Martyr School enters its 177th year, our expectations for the 2025 — 2026 school year are rooted in the timeless traditions of our Catholic faith while embracing innovation that prepares our students for the future. The canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis at the beginning of this school year offers a profound and inspiring moment for all students. His life and legacy — marked by deep faith, humility, and a commitment to using technology for good —will serve as a guiding light for our children, encouraging them to explore their world with curiosity while remaining grounded in Gospel values.
Academically, our expectation is for rigorous, developmentally appropriate instruction that challenges every learner while nurturing a genuine love of knowledge. Our gifted teachers will continue to foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the next stage of their educational journey. The newly renovated Innovation Center, upgraded playground, and the transformed front garden, featuring a meditation path and native plants, will serve as vibrant spaces where imagination and discovery flourish.
We aim to cultivate resilience, empathy, and respect in our students, enabling them to flourish both in school and in life. Through intentional programs, collaborative activities with parish staff, and a Christ-centered environment, students will learn to manage emotions, build positive relationships, and make decisions aligned with their values.
We will reaffirm that parents are the primary educators of their children, and develop an even stronger partnership between home and school, reinforcing the shared mission of faith formation, academic excellence, and personal growth. Together, we will create an environment where God will serve as our moral compass and our anchor in all circumstances.
Assumption School, Morristown
As we begin this new school year, we look forward to celebrating our 175th anniversary of “Learning thru Love” with our school families, students and our alumni.
Our expectations remain rooted in the mission of Catholic education. We will continue to integrate our Catholic identity into all aspects of school life, nurturing students in prayer, service, and Gospel values. We are committed to maintaining high standards of academic excellence and encouraging every child to reach their fullest potential.
Our school will strengthen partnerships with families and our parish, fostering a welcoming, Christ-centered community. We will provide students with opportunities to grow as responsible leaders, especially in service and faith, while ensuring a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where every child feels valued and loved.
Finally, we remain committed to the professional and spiritual development of our faculty and staff, so that together we may continue to embody and exemplify the values we strive to instill in our students.
All Saints Academy, Parsippany
All Saints Academy is committed to excellence rooted in Catholic values. The 2025-2026 school year marks continued preparation of service-minded, global learners. With a strong focus on social and emotional needs, our students demonstrate empathy for others and the world around them. We empower future leaders through daily leadership opportunities that build confidence and grit. Staff and students continue to grow in faith each day, working together in the light of Christ.
Holy Spirit School, Pequannock
As we look ahead to the start of a new school year, we do so with great anticipation and excitement.
Our commitment is focused on building a community of students, families, and faculty/staff working together in partnership to strengthen our faith, academics, and service. We strive to bring our students closer to God by living out our faith in both word and action, by modeling the virtues, and by sharing experiences and school traditions rooted in our Catholic faith.
We are committed to a strong academic foundation, challenging our students to become critical thinkers and motivated learners while discovering their God-given talents in classrooms that foster curiosity, creativity, respect, cooperation, kindness, and service. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we find ourselves looking to the future with God’s blessings and success.
Divine Mercy Academy, Rockaway
As members of Divine Mercy Academy (DMA), we center our daily lives on a strong integration of Catholic faith, ensuring that Gospel values guide all that we do. During the 2025-2026 academic year, we remain fully committed to the overall mission of DMA, fostering a Christ-centered environment where all are welcomed and valued.
Academic excellence is a priority, and we strive for high-quality instruction and achievement in all academic areas for every student. Our community embodies inclusion, respecting and embracing the unique gifts of all students and families. We focus on community building that stands out, creating connections that strengthen relationships across classrooms, grades, and families. Continued growth in all areas — spiritual, academic, and personal — is a shared commitment, with each member of our community striving to reach their full potential.
We honor and build upon the traditions of St. Cecilia Parish and Sacred Heart parishes, both in Rockaway, N.J., preserving the legacy of faith and service that shapes our identity. The staff models Christ-like leadership, mentorship, and collaboration, supporting one another and our students.
Students are encouraged to participate actively in their spiritual journey and learning, taking responsibility for their own growth. Together, we nourish the spiritual, academic, and personal development of every member of the DMA family, ensuring a year of excellence, faith, and community.
St. Therese School, Roxbury
St. Therese School, located in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, was founded to promote learning, enhance a Catholic faith community, and prepare students for a changing world.
Our expectations for the 2025-26 year are that our students will continue to grow intellectually, spiritually, morally, and physically. We will fulfill our mission statement by educating our students in mind, body, and spirit.
Faculty and students will gather for morning prayer at 7:55 a.m. in the gymnasium before class. We expect that our teachers will continue to apply a rigorous, Catholic faith-based curriculum across all subjects using the updated diocesan curriculum. Our faculty and students will continue to attend Mass, adoration, and receive the sacraments regularly throughout the year. All students will be involved in service projects.
Students will be offered classes in art, technology, Spanish language, and music. For the coming year, we will provide more clubs and extracurricular activities, and will collaborate closely with our volunteers from the Home and School Association to support their school fundraising efforts.
We look forward to seeing our faculty, staff, parents, and students succeed in our mission of educating students in the Catholic faith. St. Therese: “Pray for us.”
Morris Catholic High School, Denville
Morris Catholic’s foundation is based on the Three Cs: Community, Character, and Commitment. Our hope and prayer for our school community is that every student will gain a deeper understanding of these Three Cs in their academic, spiritual, athletic, and personal lives, and learn how to live them out concretely.
This year’s scripture theme is based on the Parable of the Talents from Matthew’s Gospel. We hope that each member of our community recognizes their God-given blessings and talents as we focus this year on how we can best use them for the service of others, our families, friends, and community.
PASSAIC COUNTY
St. Philip Preparatory School, Clifton
St. Philip the Apostle School in Clifton is looking forward to the 2025-2026 school year with anticipation and great excitement.
Our talented and gifted teachers will continue the tradition of educating the youth of today to become the upright and intelligent adults of tomorrow. Our students are looking forward to a year filled with learning, a new preschool playground, and our very successful Kaleidoscope program. We hope that our students continue to grow in God’s wisdom and love.
St. Anthony School, Hawthorne
This school year, our children at St. Anthony School will grow not only academically but also in their relationship with Jesus. The passion for Jesus and learning is contagious at our school.
One of the highlights of the year will be our Learning Fair, scheduled for January. It will take place in our gymnasium during Catholic Schools Week. This interactive, project-based learning experience will allow the students to explore a central idea in creative and meaningful ways. It will challenge them to make cross-curricular connections, solve problems, and communicate their ideas effectively. We are excited to be involved and to see how the teachers facilitate the love for learning among our students.
This year, our theme is centered around the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. We will have the opportunity to dive into life in 1776 and the events that led to the American Revolution. Through living museum exhibits, visual displays, performances, and technology, we expect this Learning Fair to bring history to life powerfully and memorably.
St. Gerard Majella School, Paterson
Our shared vision for St. Gerard’s is to nurture a responsible, generous, and compassionate community that makes visible the presence, life, and love of Jesus to the world.
St. Gerard’s strives to align its vision with that of Jesus. The students, teachers, and staff view themselves as God’s exceptional work in progress. Therefore, we challenge our students’ minds to learn, think creatively, and solve problems, to develop confidence in themselves and their future. We stretch our students’ hearts by encouraging them to participate in relationships where they can share their resources with others. We invite them daily to be in touch with God’s love for them and all people.
Academy of St. James of the Marches, Totowa
The Academy of St. James in Totowa is excited to welcome the 2025-2026 school year. We have many new families and two new teachers in third and fourth grade. As always, we strive to improve our instruction and motivation of our incredible student body. Inspiring students to think at a higher level is always the goal in this media-saturated world. We will continue to focus on educating the whole child and bringing them closer to the Lord each day.
DePaul Catholic High School, Wayne
DePaul enters its 69th year with a sense of renewed enthusiasm and a commitment to the Gospel-based values of Catholic education.
We expect a stellar school year based on many new changes, including the following:
- We continue the progress made last year on our campus with a new roof on the West Wing of the building, refurbished locker rooms, and other capital improvements to the physical plant.
- We welcome Father Frank Lennie as our chaplain. As a DePaul graduate, he returns to his alma mater to help spread the word of God to the entire school community.
- We are introducing several new textbook series this year, including a new textbook in AP US II.
- Our athletic teams continue to excel, and we anticipate building on the championship seasons that were achieved in girls’ soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and football.
SUSSEX COUNTY
Pope John XXIII Middle School, Sparta
We are excited to begin the new school year at Pope John XXIII Middle School.
Our faculty and staff have been very successful in creating a safe and nurturing school environment, which allows our students to thrive. We look forward to partnering with our families to empower their children to become confident, compassionate, and engaged citizens through rigorous academics and meaningful faith-based experiences.
Rev. George A. Brown Memorial School, Sparta
As the 2025 — 2026 school year begins, Rev. George A. Brown Memorial School anticipates a year of growth in both faith and academics, where our students will deepen their relationship with Christ while continuing to excel academically. We will strengthen our sense of community through service projects, school liturgies, and family events that celebrate our Catholic identity. At Rev. George A. Brown, we hope that every child feels safe, loved, and challenged to become the person God created them to be.
Pope John XXIII Regional High School, Sparta
For the 2025-26 school year, Pope John XXIII High School anticipates continuing to provide a world-class education grounded in Gospel values to all students in grades 8-12. We will:
- Continue to provide a disciplined, safe, and nurturing environment for students and staff, where respect, gratitude, kindness, and cooperation are of the utmost importance.
- Have our entire student body and their families participate in multiple community service initiatives that provide much-needed relief to those in need.
- Develop an updated strategic plan that includes the needs of all stakeholders and ensures the long-term well-being of the schools of the Catholic Academy.
- Remain a top academic school recognized at the highest level by the College Board for its PSAT, SAT, ACT, and Advanced Placement scores.
- Continue to provide a wide variety of clubs, activities, and athletic offerings that provide for the needs of all students.
Mary D. Baier, M.P.A., is the superintendent of schools of the Diocese of Paterson in New Jersey.
Diocesan schools growing in excellence, discipleship for coming year