The $200 million archdiocesan capital campaign, “Heritage of Faith, Vision of Hope” includes an anticipated allocation of $50 million for Catholic education.

Of that amount, $30 million will help fund the construction of two new Catholic high schools, and $20 million will establish two tuition assistance endowments: $18 million toward children in Catholic elementary schools and $2 million toward children in Catholic schools of special education.

At press time, the campaign had raised more than $126 million. Because 25 cents of every dollar raised will benefit Catholic education, the education allocation is currently more than $31.5 million.

“The capital campaign has been a huge boost for the future of all Catholic education in the Archdiocese,” said Gerald J. Parsons, chairman of the archdiocesan Board of Education who is also a member of Cardinal Justin Rigali’s Leadership Gift Task Force for the campaign.

Pope John Paul II High School, scheduled to open in September in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, is the first of the two new secondary schools. It is a consolidation of Pope Pius X High School in Pottstown and Kennedy-Kenrick High School in Norristown, both of which will close in June.

The second new archdiocesan high school will be built in Hilltown, Montgomery County, replacing the current Lansdale Catholic High School in Lansdale and drawing additional students from the burgeoning local population.

The five schools of special education of the Archdiocese are elementary programs designed exclusively for students requiring full-time special education services.

Generating annual proceeds of approximately $100,000, the $2 million special education tuition assistance endowment will provide partial tuition assistance to nearly 100 additional families each year.

The $18 million elementary school tuition assistance endowment will also award partial tuition assistance and enable thousands of additional students to receive a Catholic education each year.

Through anticipated annual earnings of nearly $1 million, the elementary school endowment will significantly increase tuition awards for Catholic elementary schools, helping to meet the needs of the most financially challenged families.

“Any investment we make in our Catholic education system is certainly strengthening the foundation of our Church as these young students become the future leaders of our Church,” Parsons said.

For more information, including how to contribute to the campaign online, visit the web site www.heritageoffaithvisionofhope.com or call the campaign office at 215-690-0702 or 610-896-7312.

CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at 215-587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.