The Bishop of Trenton has a lot of good things to say about the Catholic schools in his Diocese, and he is doing it in a newly-produced video entitled “Catholic Schools Have it All.”

An array of voices and personal stories about Catholic schools back up Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. in the 13-minute production that serves as the anchor for a comprehensive, multimedia campaign that began to roll out in early April.  The CSHIA campaign also includes billboards, posters to be hung in parishes and schools and a dedicated website.  Additional elements, such as digital advertising, are also planned.

Bishop O’Connell shares his own family’s stories, and relates how his Catholic school background played a significant part in forming him into who he has become as a man of faith, a priest and now a bishop.  He expresses his belief that Catholic schools are a vital part of the future of the Church.

A key part of his message was aimed directly at Catholic parents whose children were not in Catholic school.  Bishop O’Connell encouraged them to take a close look at Catholic school and to fully and prayerfully consider enrolling their children there.  He asks families to consider how different their child’s life would be as a result of receiving an education centered on Christ and he issues a special invitation to parents of children in parish religious education programs.

But his message is not limited to an appeal for enrollment.  Bishop O’Connell also states, “Catholic schools are every Catholic’s business,” adding that every parishioner, whether they have school-aged children or no children, has a stake in the future of Catholic schools.  He urges all Catholics to “Find out about your Catholic school; see what is needed there.”

The Bishop specifically mentions Catholic school alumni, encouraging them to reconnect with their Catholic school and “pay forward the gifts you have been given.”

In producing the video, staff and partners of the Diocese’s Department of Radio and Television made a whirlwind tour through schools and churches across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties.  They captured classroom segments and taped interviews with pastors, principals, teachers and parents, all who candidly share their perspective on the value of Catholic school and the importance of making it a priority. 

According to Rayanne Bennett, executive director of the Diocese’s Office of Communications, the idea for the campaign came straight from the Bishop.  “He asked what might be done to help get the word out about our schools.  Within a day or so, a plan was in development.”

The value of the campaign, Bennett said, is that “it gives a very accessible platform to the Bishop and other key people to convey to the wider Catholic community what Catholic school families already know.”  She added, “We may have taken for granted that everyone knows all that our schools offer, but not everyone has heard these messages.  Often, our schools are among our best kept secrets.”

The video can be viewed on the campaign’s website – CatholicSchoolsHaveItAll.org – as well as on dioceseoftrenton.org.  Copies are being sent to every parish and school to place on their websites and social media, and DVD copies will be made available.

Bennett credits the members of a quickly-formed committee that met in February to begin planning the campaign elements.  “Our Radio and Television team – under the guidance of Marianne Hartman and Rose Kimball with freelance partners Frank Lettieri and Ryan Larason – went above and beyond.  But we also have to thank the other members of the committee for pulling this all together in very short order, especially Donna Davidson of the Department of Catholic Schools, and Matt Greeley, associate director, Office of Communications, who worked to set up location shoots and interviews with several dozen people.  Jeanne Kysela, our digital media director, has been working on building our new website, and Brittany Wilson, our social media coordinator, will be very involved in getting the video out across as many platforms as possible.

“We really can’t say enough about all of the priests, educators and parents who went out of their way to help us with this, adjusting their schedules so that they can take part.  And we have to note the extraordinary support of JoAnn D’Anton in Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, who worked on this project as if it were her own and made things happen locally.  The video couldn’t have happened without all of their cooperation and support.”

In the coming phases of the campaign, parishioners and Catholic school families will be asked to share photos and reflections about their Catholic school experiences.  More details will be announced. In the meantime, Bennett invited members of the Catholic community to connect with the campaign through the website, which will be updated with new content and video throughout the coming months.