Archbishop José H. Gomez Unveils the Good Shepherd Network of Catholic Schools

In a final show of unyielding support for Catholic schools in San Antonio, Archbishop José H. Gomez launched the Good Shepherd Network of Catholic Schools, on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, just days before his departure to Los Angeles. The Good Shepherd Network concept was the product of the leadership and vision of Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú and Catholic School Superintendent Patricia Davis. The network schools are those most in need in the Archdiocese of San Antonio including: St. Philip of Jesus, St. Margaret Mary, St. Leo the Great, St. Cecilia, St. James the Apostle, St. Paul, St. John Berchmans, St. Mary Magdalen, Holy Name, St. Benedict, and St. Gerard High School.

Governance and administration at these schools will shift to the Good Shepherd Board of Governors and the Director of the Good Shepherd Network of Catholic Schools. These leaders in business, education and pastoral ministry, will serve as a board of decision makers, under the authority of the archbishop, to help build and execute strategic plans to reach the goals of the Good Shepherd Network of Catholic Schools.

The charter Board members are Steve Edlund, President of the International Bank of Commerce, San Antonio; Harvey Najim, founder of Sirius Computer Solutions and The Harvey E. Najim Family Foundation; Father Marty Elsner, S.J., Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on San Antonio's west side and longtime supporter of inner-city Catholic schools; Father Richard Wosman, S.M., Director of the Catholic School Leadership Program at St. Mary's University; Jane Macon, a partner with Fulbright and Jaworski; Michael Belz, President of Catholic Life Insurance, who has donated almost a million dollars to Catholic schools in the last 3 years; Dr. Lorraine Barnes, a pediatrician at Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital; and Robert Aguirre, President of Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL.) Pastors from parishes in the Good Shepherd Network of Catholic Schools will serve on the board on a rotating basis.

Harvey Najim has provided a financial boost already, setting the Network on the right course for success. In the last two years, he has donated a total of $500,000, paving the way for Hope for the Future to provide tuition assistance to 209 Najim Scholars.

Michael J. Moretta will serve as the director of the Good Shepherd Network. He has a long history of successfully working with inner-city schools, creating an inner-city network of schools with full support of community sponsors. Working in consultation with the superintendent, Mr. Moretta will oversee the network and will lead special collaborative service and academic projects, act as the immediate supervisor of the network principals, and serve as the liaison for family and community outreach and corporate sponsors.

Hope for the Future will continue to distribute tuition assistance to students in the Good Shepherd Network as well as all Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. During the past three years, 1,500 students received $1.9 million in tuition assistance from Hope for the Future to attend the Catholic School of their choice. The mission of Hope for the Future is to provide tuition assistance to as many children in need who want to attend any of the 45 Archdiocese of San Antonio Catholic schools in the city and the outlying communities.
To sponsor a student or a school or to donate to the Good Shepherd Network of Schools contact Julie Seguin at (210) 734-1907 or at julie.seguin@archsa.org.