Front Royal Statement
INSTITUTE FOR CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION DELEGATION SIGNS “FRONT ROYAL STATEMENT,” ADVANCING NATIONAL RENEWAL OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
FRONT ROYAL, VA — Leadership from the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (ICLE) joined Catholic bishops, higher education leaders, superintendents, and apostolate leaders from across the United States at Christendom College on May 27-28 for the inaugural Front Royal Education Summit. This major collaborative effort focuses entirely on the renewal of Catholic primary and secondary education.
The working summit culminated in the drafting of the Front Royal Statement: Seven Cardinal Principles of Catholic Elementary and Secondary Education. This document outlines the foundational pillars of Catholic school renewal.
As primary partners in this national movement, ICLE sent a dedicated leadership delegation—Vice President of Mission Advancement Elisabeth Sullivan, Director of Curriculum and Academic Resources J. Jacob Tawney, and Diocesan Liaison Abriana Chilelli — who all contributed to and signed the statement. Moving forward, ICLE intends to fully support and amplify the principles espoused in the Front Royal Statement, which fully align with ICLE’s mission to free teachers and students for the joyful pursuit of faith, wisdom, and virtue.
A Blueprint for Authentic Renewal
Grounded in the Church’s two-millennia tradition, the Front Royal Statement reaffirms that the true purpose of Catholic education is supernatural: the integral formation of the whole child—mind, body, and soul. The document integrates these timeless principles with the practical realities of school life, providing a clear roadmap for:
● The Supernatural End of Education
● The Nature and Dignity of the Human Person
● What Children Deserve, the Rights of Parents, and the Duties of the State
● The Formation and Responsibilities of Teachers and Leaders
● The Ecclesial Responsibility of Bishops and Priests
● The Integrity and Order of the Curriculum
● The Transmission of a Living Catholic Culture
Designed to meet the unique cultural challenges of our time, the Statement serves as a unifying touchstone to orient and strengthen Catholic schools by moving away from conventional, secular educational models.
Leadership Perspectives & ICLE Delegation
“An authentic vision of education is often lost in our day, overshadowed by a merely practical and outcomes-driven approach,” said Elisabeth Sullivan, Vice President of Mission Advancement for the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, who represented ICLE at the Summit. “True Christian education, as the Statement affirms, is ordered to God and concerned with the supernatural formation of the whole child.”
“The Front Royal Statement represents more than a single event or discussion,” added Shawn Peterson, President of Catholic Education Partners, who also serves on ICLE’s Board of Directors. “It is an effort to provide clarity, direction, and unity for educators and institutions committed to renewing Catholic education in fidelity to the Church and in service to the human person.”
Collaborative Efforts Across the Church
The two-day working summit brought together a distinguished group of leaders dedicated to systemic reform. Dignitaries in attendance included Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, and Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of Columbus, who also serves on ICLE’s Board. Numerous diocesan superintendents at the forefront of renewal also guided discussions at the event.
About the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (ICLE)
The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education inspires and equips Catholic educators to renew today’s Catholic dioceses and schools by drawing on the Church’s rich tradition of education. Through school consultations, formation programs, teacher training credentials, conferences, and curriculum resources, ICLE helps educators reclaim the Church’s heritage of forming the whole person in faith and reason. Learn More about the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education.
Photo Gallery – The Inaugural Front Royal Education Summit
