Ep. 4.60: Educating a City: How Catholic Schools Shaped St. Louis

This episode traces the remarkable rise of Catholic education in St. Louis—from Bishop DuBourg’s founding of St. Louis College in 1818, to the early parish schools that educated thousands of children long before public schools were free, to the flourishing network of high schools, universities, and special‑education programs that eventually made St. Louis the nation’s leader in per‑capita Catholic school enrollment. Monsignor Witt walks listeners through the pioneering work of religious orders, the creation of institutions like Rosati‑Kain, CBC, SLUH, and St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, and the modern efforts—such as Beyond Sunday—to keep Catholic education vibrant and accessible, revealing how deeply the Church’s commitment to learning has shaped the character and future of the region.