Friday, 16 July 2010 08:43

Holly Goodwin, assistant superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Wichita, is going to drop part of her title at the end of the month. She will become the superintendent of Catholic schools and director of total Catholic education for the Diocese of Colorado Springs on Aug. 1.
“I’m looking forward to going into a diocese that has a limited number of Catholic schools and a growing number of Catholics. It is a perfect opportunity to get people excited about Catholic education and to grow the schools,” she said from her Wichita office in the St. Philippine Duchesne Building.
The Diocese of Colorado Springs, with a Catholic population of 141,865, has six Catholic elementary schools and one high school. The Diocese of Wichita has 38 elementary schools and four Catholic high schools despite having 26,000 fewer Catholics. One difference, of course, is the rich history of stewardship that the Diocese of Wichita is known for throughout the United States.

“I think the Diocese of Colorado Springs has a history with Catholic schools that is typical of many dioceses – they are working hard to make their schools viable – balancing the tuition rate and expenses to make schools affordable,” she said, adding that the diocese is trying to creatively reinforce the idea that Catholic schools are for all Catholic parents who want a Catholic education for their children and not just for those who can afford them.
“I’ve been in a couple of situations before where – against all odds – we grew and doubled the size of the school, and found creative ways to serve all those who wanted to enroll. It takes faith, a vision and lots of work” Goodwin said.
“I believe Catholic schools are faith communities called together by God. God sends the people who are needed there to make that school what he has planned for it. The principal and pastor lead the community and make people feel comfortable enough to share their gifts. Once gifts are shared then unbelievable things happen.”
Although the seed of stewardship was planted and is growing in the Diocese of Wichita, Goodwin said, stewardship must be nurtured. “We have lots of parents who take it for granted. I often get calls from parents after they leave our diocese. They’ll say, ‘Oh my gosh, we’ve got to do something. I can’t get my kids into a Catholic school,’ or ‘it’s so expensive I can’t afford to send my kids to Catholic schools.’ They didn’t realize that Catholic schools are a gift of stewardship.”
Catholic schools are one gift of stewardship but not the main gift, she said, adding that the main gift is changing peoples’ hearts.
“When you begin to look at what you have as a gift from God, it changes your attitude and actions. Being accountable for the gifts becomes more important,” she said.
“Using the gifts to serve others, and to live and pass our faith to the next generation become central to community members. Because of stewardship, the Diocese of Wichita is developing into this type of community and our Catholic schools benefit from this mentality but they also help form it.”
Goodwin said she hopes to be able to take the spirit of stewardship and combine what she has learned from the good people of this diocese with the vision that exists in Colorado Springs to improve Catholic education and grow the Catholic schools.
“I am excited about the opportunity to serve and share my gifts but so much more aware that all I have is a gift from God,” she said. “Thank you Wichita for teaching me the true meaning of stewardship.”

Listen to what Holly is going to miss most
Watch a video of Holly Goodwin talking about what she’ll miss about the diocese at the diocesan YouTube site: youtube.com/dioceseofwichita. She also talks about what she is looking forward to (other than the mountains) when she is in Colorado Springs.