Catholic School Playbook on EWTN: A Story of Renewal and Hope

When the world whispers that tradition is fading, a new story rises like dawn over an ancient field of wheat. The Catholic School Playbook — now featured on EWTN — doesn’t just spotlight schools; it sings of a renewal that feels like a return home to what has always worked, and always mattered.

In Episode 1, we are drawn into the heart of Saint Jerome Academy in Hyattsville, Maryland — a community that once faced the very real threat of closure due to enrollment and financial struggle. Families, teachers, and leaders stood at a crossroads: continue fighting the tide or return to the Church’s rich heritage of classroom formation. They chose to root their school deeply in a classical Catholic liberal education, letting Christ’s light guide every lesson, every friendship, and every choice.

What happened next feels almost poetic. Instead of fading, St. Jerome flourished. Enrollment grew. Families became more deeply engaged. And a culture that had once been at risk began to hum again with wonder and joy. This isn’t just revival; it’s a model for what’s possible when a school anchors itself in Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, letting Christ — the Logos — shape not just books and lessons, but hearts and minds.

Across the nation, Catholic schools are discovering what this episode so beautifully illustrates: that when we reclaim our mission and let our tradition guide us, Catholic education doesn’t merely survive — it thrives, thriving in a way that draws families, inspires teachers, and forms disciples prepared for every calling in life.

For our Saint Mary School community, this spotlight feels like a mirror held up to who we are called to be — a place where faith and reason walk hand in hand, where ancient wisdom meets young wonder, and where every child is cherished as an image of God.

Take a moment to watch and be inspired. Let it renew your gratitude for the gift of Catholic education and deepen your hope for what it can become here in our parish and beyond. Watch it here!