Sister Rosa, a Vietnamese nun teaching at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Academy in New York City, is beloved by her students and brings a unique perspective to the classroom. She is one of a dwindling number of nuns teaching in American Catholic schools, where the majority of faculty are now lay teachers. Sister Gladys Anyanwu, another nun at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy in Brooklyn, also brings a different approach to teaching and is loved by her students.
The number of nuns in Catholic schools has steadily decreased over the years, with various reasons cited for this decline. However, schools remain committed to their mission of providing a faith-based education, whether taught by nuns or lay teachers. Nuns like Sister Rosa and Sister Gladys bring a unique sense of tradition and spirituality to the classroom, while lay teachers also share in the school’s commitment to educating the whole child.
Despite the changes in the composition of faculty in Catholic schools, the focus remains on teaching and instilling faith in students. Sister Dale McDonald, a longtime educator and advocate, emphasizes that it is the adherence and teaching of the faith that makes a school truly Catholic, regardless of the mix of religious and lay teachers. Nuns bring their order’s specific mission to the classroom, while lay teachers contribute their own gifts and spirit to the educational experience.
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