Editor’s note: Gary Gelo, who retired Feb. 6 as superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Palm Beach, worked for Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito for nearly 15 years. He shares some examples of how Bishop Barbarito’s love for Catholic education has allowed schools to thrive in the diocese.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito has frequently stated that Catholic schools are a priority in the Diocese of Palm Beach. This is not mere sentiment expressed by the bishop in support of his schools; rather, it is a concrete reality demonstrated in the support he has provided to pastors, administrators, families and students on a daily basis.
He often meets with pastors about the needs of their schools and has been accessible to principals and high school presidents to discuss matters related to their schools. He has been a visible presence not only at administrator meetings over the years but also countless liturgies with students.
In 2012, during my first year as superintendent of schools, I proposed a significant undertaking to strategically address the future needs of Catholic schools through an extensive consultation and planning process to be coordinated by consultants from the University of Notre Dame.
Surveys were conducted among school families, teachers were engaged in discussion about their needs, and national experts delivered white papers to a planning group consisting of priests, lay leaders and community members. Father Michael McNally remarked at the time that it was the first time in the history of the diocese that all of these groups gathered to discuss important directions for any of our ministries.
Bishop Barbarito gave his blessing to this endeavor and provided the critical support to make it a reality. The end result was the document “Strategic Vision 2020: Charting a Course of Excellence,” which provided guidance to our Catholic schools from 2013 through 2020 based on the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools (2012). The Diocese of Palm Beach was among the first dioceses in the country to create a plan based on the benchmarks, which are now the standard for Catholic schools nationwide.
Also in the fall of 2012, Bishop Barbarito announced a diocesan grant to the Catholic schools of $500,000 to enhance and strengthen their technology infrastructure. Internet capabilities were expanded to a full wi-fi structure that allowed schools to move toward 1:1 student-technology learning experiences when needed.
The bishop has continued his interest in the use of technology in education and often talks about the use of AI and the need to remember that AI may process information, but as individuals we must also speak and learn with our heart and soul, which is a richer level of learning.
Students of the diocese are familiar with St. Carlo Acutis and his quote, “All people are born as originals, but many die as photocopies.” Bishop Barbarito has told the story of St. Carlo in his school liturgies and has stressed the need to live authentically as God has created us to be.
In addition, the bishop has provided steadfast leadership in ongoing programs that have strengthened the safety and security of all our schools. He also provided his blessing and support to a key 2019 diocesan marketing program for Catholic schools that was coordinated by the Office of Catholic Schools and Office of Communications and Development. The schools have continued to benefit from various iterations of marketing campaigns.
Through the support of the bishop and diocese, almost every school has embarked on a significant building project during the last 10 years to enhance or expand facilities. Our pastors, presidents and principals have worked diligently on these projects to raise funds and create facilities that best serve our parishes.
Bishop Barbarito typically celebrated Mass at each of the three high schools twice a year. His homily almost always included a reminder to students that they are made in the image of God and are unique and God loves them just as they are. The bishop’s support and love of our students is very evident in these messages he prepares for them.
He has always shown his support for our teachers by attending their professional development days and celebrating with them those teachers recognized for their years of service. At every opportunity, whether it be with our diocesan teachers or with our school administrators at their end-of-year meeting, he would express his personal gratitude for the ministry of our leaders.
Since 2003, Bishop Barbarito served as the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops’ episcopal moderator for education, meeting regularly with Catholic school superintendents from across the state. Michael Sheedy, executive director of the FCCB, said that during this time, “Florida has made tremendous leaps in education.”
As a diocese, we have been blessed by his exceptional leadership and support for Catholic education. It is said that a Christian educator teaches with every word, look and gesture. This indeed has been true with our shepherd, Bishop Barbarito. His greatest gift to our Catholic schools has been his wholehearted involvement and expression of love and support given to each person involved in Catholic education.
