BISHOP DONALD WUERL OF PITTSBURGH NAMED CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Bishop Donald W. Wuerl of Pittsburgh has been named chairman of the board of directors of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).

The election of Bishop Wuerl for a three-year term was announced by the board of directors of NCEA Dec. 12, 2005.

"We are honored to have Bishop Wuerl lead Catholic educators nationwide at this time," said Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin, who has served as NCEA chairman since 2002. "As a former NCEA Seton honoree, Bishop Wuerl has been recognized for his exceptional leadership and commitment to Catholic education."

NCEA President Dr. Karen Ristau expressed gratitude to Bishop Wuerl for his willingness to chair the Association. "These are both exciting and challenging times for U.S. Catholic education. Bishop Wuerl’s vision and confidence in strengthening and expanding Catholic education for future generations will be a great gift to NCEA and our members."

"Catholic education has played a significant role in the United States, exercising an extraordinary impact on the life of individuals, the church and our society," Bishop Wuerl said.

"The National Catholic Educational Association provides gifted and competent leadership at the national level in support of

Catholic educational programs and personnel throughout the church in our country. It will be a privilege and joy to serve as NCEA’s board chairman and work with all to continue the important contributions that the NCEA makes to so many," Bishop Wuerl said.

In January 1993, Our Sunday Visitor, a national Catholic newspaper, described Bishop Wuerl as "the education bishop." Two years later, Bishop Wuerl received the NCEA’s Elizabeth Ann Seton Award for contributions to Catholic education.

He is co-author of the best-selling adult catechism, "The Teaching of Christ," now in its 29th year of publication and fifth edition. The book has been translated into more than 10 languages and is used throughout the world.

His most recent book, "The Catholic Way," was published by Doubleday in September 2001. "The Catholic Way" is a popular presentation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Bishop Wuerl serves on numerous national and international bodies, is chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) editorial oversight board for the "U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults," chairman of the USCCB Committee on Catechesis and vice president of the executive board of the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center with extensive involvement in the center's Intercultural Forum.

He has chaired the USCCB's Committee on Education, is past chairman of the board of the National Catholic Bioethics Center and is a member of the board of trustees of the Catholic University of America. Bishop Wuerl is also Distinguished Service Professor at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, where he teaches a course on the foundations of Catholic faith. He was honored this year by the Catholic Campus Ministry Association for his support and involvement in campus ministry in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and on the national level where he served as the inaugural chairman of the campus ministry subcommittee of the USCCB.

Bishop Wuerl has hosted the award-winning "The Teaching of Christ" television program for 17 years. The weekly catechetical program applies the Catholic faith to contemporary life.

Catholic schools and Catholic education have flourished under Bishop Wuerl’s leadership in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. More than 80,000 students are enrolled in Catholic schools and religious education programs throughout the diocese.

In 1990 the diocese was the first in the nation to have all of its schools accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and was reaccredited most recently in 2001.

In 1998, Bishop Wuerl established the Diocesan Academic Council, including representatives of the diocese’s three Catholic institutions of higher education – Duquesne University, LaRoche College and Carlow University – to implement the principles of Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

Bishop Wuerl is deeply involved in priestly formation, providing direction and leadership to the diocese’s Saint Paul Seminary.

In 1994, the financial policies for Catholic schools in the diocese were revitalized, reflecting the bishop's commitment to finding new and innovative ways to finance Catholic education, making it affordable and accessible to all. The Bishop’s Education Fund was founded in 1995 for parents of Catholic school students and has distributed millions of dollars in tuition assistance.

The Extra Mile Foundation, founded in 1990, sustains parochial schools in the inner city for the education of urban at-risk youth.

The diocese recently hosted a convocation that honored the thousands who serve in religious education programs throughout the Diocese of Pittsburgh. This celebrated the completion of the review by diocesan staff of every parish religious education program in the diocese.

The diocese's Department for Persons with Disabilities has developed an award-winning curriculum used nationwide and the Saint Anthony Programs has pioneered a model of inclusive education for persons with mental retardation and autism from kindergarten through college – the only program of its kind in the nation.

NCEA President Dr. Ristau noted that Bishop Wuerl will begin his three-year term in April 2006, at NCEA’s annual convention in Atlanta. "This will be the Association’s first meeting in that great city," she added. "It is fitting that we welcome Bishop Wuerl to begin his leadership in a diocese where Catholic education is growing and new schools have opened."

Established in 1904, the NCEA is the largest private professional education organization in the world, representing 200,000 Catholic educators serving 7.6 million students in Catholic elementary and secondary schools, in religious education programs, in seminaries and in colleges and universities.

 -30-