Mater Dei Apostolate Join us in answering the call - An apostolate of the laity
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Mater Dei Apostolate
An apostolate of the laity
Join us in answering the call
The need The challenge
There is no Catholic high school in Duluth. For over forty years, parents in our community
have been faithfully praying for an option for the Catholic education of their high schoolers. Young Catholics are leaving the Church at a rapid rate, as noted in a 2017
survey conducted by St. Mary’s Press in collaboration with the Center for
Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. They
There is a need. What are we going to do about it? sampled 5.4 million individuals in the United States who are former
Catholics between the ages of 15 and 25 and asked them at what age they
The future of the Church depends upon the Catholic education of our youth. It is through stopped self-identifying as Catholic.
education that the culture of our faith is passed on to future generations. Authentic
Catholic education fosters in the student an appreciation of the good, the true, and the Seventy-four percent said they stopped identifying as Catholic between
beautiful, which lays the foundation for true wisdom and virtue. It's an education that ages 10 and 20, with a median age of 13.
focuses on formation of the whole human person. It's an education for eternal life.
Despite the clear need and benefit of Catholic high school education, we are seeing it's
21 to 25 Under 5
decline nationwide. Young people are leaving the Church and the cost of Catholic high 3% 5%
18 to 20
school education is rising. It is time to address these challenges and consider a new 11%
approach so we can rebuild authentic Catholic culture in our community and in the world. 5 to 9
18%
"At what age did you stop self-
identifying as Catholic?"
13 to 17
39% 10 to 12
24%
Thirteen years old. That’s an eighth grader on the brink of high school. Our children are
entering into their high school years with the odds stacked against them in regards to
their faith. Their Catholic morals, values and ideals are viewed as counter cultural in our
post-Christian society. More than ever, our high schoolers are in need of a solid,
authentically Catholic formation and supportive Catholic community.
Mater Dei Apostolate A Case for Support
Rising costs Average tuition for Catholic high schools in the United States*
Families need a solution. However, high tuition puts Catholic high
school education out of reach for many of them. With conventional 1999 $4,845
education models, costs are only increasing. Catholic high school is
becoming an ideal reserved for the wealthy and those who are
2008 $7,826
eligible for financial aid. Middle-class families are being priced out of
Catholic education. Families who desire a Catholic education for
their children but cannot afford a conventional private school are 2018 $11,239
desperate for alternatives. Often intimidated to attempt
$0 $2,500 $5,000 $7,500 $10,000 $12,500
homeschooling at the high-school level, they settle for public school.
*Data from the National Catholic Education Association
and the National Center for Educational Statistics
"As teenagers, we need Catholic education so we can encounter and depend on
God as we navigate through the stormiest seas of our lives."
-Ruth, Mater Dei Junior
High school tuition for Marshall in Duluth, MN: $19,980
High school tuition for Lakeview Christian Academy in Duluth, MN: $7,900
Average yearly fees for full-time student at Mater Dei Apostolate: $1,500*
*Plus family participation in the Mater Dei Monthly Match Program
06/10
Mater Dei Apostolate A Case for Support
The call Apostolicam Actuositatem (Decree on the
Apostolate of the Laity, Vatican II):
In the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity from Vatican II, each individual Catholic was
exhorted to do what they can to address the problems of our era in accordance with the
Since in our own times, new problems are arising and very serious errors are
mind of the Church (Apostolicam Actuositatem). There is no Catholic high school in Duluth.
circulating which tend to undermine the foundations of religion, the moral order,
That is a problem.
and human society itself, this sacred synod earnestly exhorts laymen--each
according to his own gifts of intelligence and learning--to be more diligent in doing
With the Mother of God (Mater Dei) as our patroness and guide, we have formed an
what they can to explain, defend, and properly apply Christian principles to the
apostolate to answer the call. We are parents, educators and community members that
problems of our era in accordance with the mind of the Church (Ch. II, 6).
have come together to provide an affordable option for Catholic high school education for
families in our community. We're paving the way forward with an innovative model that
has the potential to be replicated nationwide.
The propagation of the Catholic faith is at the heart of our apostolate. Our mission is to
provide higher education prep with a higher purpose; union with God. Code of Canon Law:
With your help, we can make a difference. We can revitalize Catholic education...the first
step towards rebuilding authentic Catholic culture in our society. Parents and those who hold their place are bound by the obligation and enjoy the
right of educating their children. Catholic parents also have the duty and right of
selecting those means and institutes by which, in light of local circumstances, they
can better provide for the Catholic education of their children (Can. 793,1).
Our inspiration comes from the Church
Quadragesimo Anno (Encyclical, Pope Pius XI):
Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they can accomplish by
their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it is an
injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign
to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can
do. For every social activity ought of its very nature to furnish help to the members
of the body social, and never destroy and absorb them (Quadragesimo Anno, 79).
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Mater Dei Apostolate A Case for Support
The solution
Hybrid education - Catholic formation
The solution is hybrid education. Students in the hybrid education program of Mater Dei are classified as
homeschool students by law, but they are taught fully by qualified instructors at the Mater Dei education
center. Students who follow the Mater Dei curriculum fully are on-campus throughout the week and have
the experience of a university style brick-and-mortar school. This model is a flexible and affordable way
for students to receive a high-quality Catholic high school education.
Innovative and forward-thinking approach to education
Utilizes the accredited curriculum and resources of Kolby Academy
Efficient and cost-effective with low overhead
Puts Catholic high school education within reach of all families, regardless of socioeconomic status
Brings homeschool and conventional school communities together, creating a stronger Catholic community
Natural transition for students into the university-style system they will be exposed to in college
FRESHMAN SOPHOMORE JUNIOR SENIOR
Co m p o s i t i o n & G r a m m a r Co m p o s i t i o n & L o g i c Composition & Rhetoric Creative Writing
Ancient Western Literature Literature of Christendom M o d e r n L i te r a t u r e British Literature
Classical curriculum
Ancient Western Civilization Era of Christendom United States Modern History US Government/Economics
Mater Dei students study the Catholic, classical curriculum of Kolbe Academy,
which focuses on the highest spiritual, literary and artistic achievements of
Algebra I/ Geometry Algebra II Pre Calculus Calculus
Western civilization. They are introduced to the great works of Christendom and
the pre-Christian masterpieces that influenced and inspired Catholic Europe.
Intro to Physics & Chemistry Biology Chemistry Physics
Classical education is the cultivation of wisdom, the inculcation of virtue, and the
training of affections through meditation on the good, the true, and the beautiful.
Mass, Sacraments,
Intro to Sacred Scripture Prayer & Church History I Apologetics & Church History II Morality & Church History III Mater Dei students receive a solid, authentically Catholic education and
formation that prepares them for life in this world and the next.
Latin I Latin II/Spanish I Latin III/Spanish II Latin IV/Spanish III
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Mater Dei Apostolate A Case for Support
Academics
Mater Dei students study the fully accredited Catholic
classical curriculum of Kolbe Academy for their core academic courses.
Full-time Mater Dei students are on-campus for class Monday-Thursday.
Qualified Mater Dei instructors teach each course fully, including
instruction, assignments and grading.
Full-time Mater Dei graduates receive a college-prep high school diploma.
As a remote option, Mater Dei students may join class virtually
for a synchronistic "real-time" learning experience.
Mater Dei Apostolate A Case for Support
Student life
Monthly service projects allow Mater Dei students to foster positive
relationships with peers while serving those in need within our community.
Enrichment elective courses teach life skills to prepare Mater Dei students
to become confident, successful, well-rounded adults.
Mater Dei students have regular opportunities for Mass, Adoration,
Confession, spiritual retreats and pilgrimages.
Mater Dei students may participate in public school sports
and extracurricular activities.
Mater Dei Apostolate A Case for Support
Adjunct Instructors “Teaching math for Mater Dei enables me to use my God-given talents
and my hard-earned education to make God known, loved and served.
At Mater Dei, we hire adjunct instructors per-course. In
Since my position is part-time, I am able to stay home with my
addition to saving costs, this model allows us to recruit
young children for most of the day.”
high-quality educators who wouldn’t have the option of
considering a full-time position; retired educators, college
-Mrs. Sarah Cossack, Mater Dei Math Instructor (Algebra I & Geometry)
professors with flexible schedules, stay-at-home mothers
with teaching backgrounds. We engage the laity by drawing
Bachelors of Science in Mathematics, University of Notre Dame
them in to use their degrees, background and expertise to
Masters of Education (Secondary Mathematics), Creighton University
teach our students.
Kolbe Academy “As a full-time instructor at a community college, I find teaching 10th grade
biology at Mater Dei to be a rewarding experience, being able to explore
Mater Dei students are categorized as homeschool students the complimentary of faith and reason as seen in the natural sciences.”
and we encourage families to register with Kolbe Academy
as their “school of record”. This means Mater Dei instructors -Mr. Zach Bennett, Mater Dei Science Instructor (Biology)
teach the courses, parents submit the grade reports to
Kolbe, and Kolbe takes care of the record-keeping and Bachelor of Arts, Double Major in Biology and Catholic Studies, College of St. Scholastica
transcripts. Kolbe Academy has been providing accredited Masters of Science (Integrated Biosciences), University of Minnesota Duluth
curriculum and services to homeschool families since 1980
and their system works well.
At Mater Dei, we believe in utilizing the tried-and-true
"With 20 years of teaching experience, I am pleased to be part of an
resources of Kolbe Academy that are already in place. In
endeavor that pays me a fair wage to teach what I know, while still
addition to keeping administrative costs low for Mater Dei, it
allowing me to pursue other teaching opportunities to bring a
allows us to effectively operate under the principle of
classical education to even more students."
subsidiarity, as described in the encyclical of Pope Pius the
XI, Quadragesimo Anno, leaving the ultimate responsibility
-Mr. John Niemann, Mater Dei History Instructor
and control in the hands of parents as the primary (Ancient Western Civilization & Era of Christendom)
educators of their children.
Bachelor of Arts in Comparative History, Evergreen State College
Master of Liberal Studies, Saint John’s College
Law Degree, William Mitchell College of Law
Mater Dei Apostolate A Case for Support
Mater Dei Monthly Match Program
Double Donation
Goes to Mater Dei
Our cost-effective hybrid education model, coupled with our Monthly Match Program, provides the
framework for us to offer our services tuition-free with only minimal registration fees. With your
help, and the help of the greater Catholic community, we can continue to provide a truly affordable
Catholic high school education to all families who desire it.
Here's how it works:
Partner
Through the generosity of benefactors, we are building up our Partner Fund: a reserved matching Fund
fund that can only be tapped into when recurring monthly givers sign up in our program. When you
commit to monthly giving at $50 or more per month, each donation triggers a match from the
Partner Fund that is transferred directly to Mater Dei Apostolate. We receive double your donation
each month! Monthly
Donation
Mater Dei partners are parishes, local organizations, national organizations, philanthropists and Triggers Match
benefactors who believe in our mission. Mater Dei monthly givers are families of Mater Dei students, From Partner Fund
relatives of Mater Dei students, parishioners, community members, and Catholic faithful who want
to join the movement of the laity to revitalize Catholic high school education in an innovative way. Sign up online at materdeiapostolate.org/monthly-match-program
Mater Dei Partner and Monthly Giver Simulation to Reach Goal
Four-year goal: $300,000 total annual income from Mater Dei Monthly Match Program
Mater Dei Partners - 12 Partners: $150,000 total
$12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500
Monthly Givers - 124 Givers: $150,000 total
$50/mo $75 /mo $100/mo $250/mo $500/mo
52 donors 32 donors 25 donors 10 donors 5 donors
($31,200) ($28,800) ($30,000) ($30,000) ($30,000)
Mater Dei Apostolate A Case for Support
2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023
Offering Offering Offering Offering
Grade 9 Grades 9-10 Grades 9-11 Grades 9-12
Year three
Fundraising goal: $350,000
fundraising
16.5%
general
24.3%
Operating costs by year General Benefit
grants
16.5%
Operation Event
contigency
11.5%
Year one: $128,650 Grants
Contingency
Year two: $219,765 Fees
2.8%
fees
Rent &
Faculty & Insurance Mater Dei Monthly
grounds
10.3%
Staff Wages Match Program
Year three: $309,850
payroll
Year four: $368,375
54%
match
64.3%
How much to raise How to raise it
Breakdown of $350,000 Breakdown of $350,000
Rent & Insurance - $36,000 Registration Fees - $9,850
Faculty & Staff Wages - $188,900 Match Program - $225,000
General Operation - $84,950 Annual Benefit Event - $57,575
Contingency - $40,150 Grants - $57,575
Detailed financials available upon request
Mater Dei Apostolate A Case for Support"Mater Dei has helped me grow academically and spiritually. I love that we study
a Catholic curriculum and we are able to openly participate in the Faith. Thank
you for the donations that allow me to attend Mater Dei."
-Margie, Mater Dei Junior
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be able to enjoy a Catholic high school
education. I appreciate all the time our teachers put into this for us to be able to
learn, and all the relationships I have made. Thank you so much
for the support you have given us."
-Anthony, Mater Dei Junior
"Mater Dei has been a life-changing experience. God plays such a huge role in
this school and this was a much needed change for me. Thank you for keeping
this school going for us. You are very appreciated!"
-Ava, Mater Dei Sophomore
Mater Dei Apostolate A Case for SupportMake a difference
Pray for us.
Keep Mater Dei Apostolate in your daily prayers
Get it off the ground.
Donate towards our year three fundraising goal
Mater Dei Education Center - Room Naming Opportunities
Sustain the apostolate. Adoration Chapel: $400,000 Library: $200,000 Student Lounge: $200,000
Enroll in our Mater Dei Monthly Match Program
Science Lab: $150,000 Classroom: $100,000 Advisory Room: $75,000
Student lounge
Honor your family, a loved one or a saint.
Name a room at the Mater Dei Education Center
Sciencelab
Science lab
Teacher
Secure the future and leave a legacy. Entrance
Consider setting up a charitable bequest Classroom
Library
Chapel Classroom Classroom
Advisory
Student
Entrance
Mater Dei Apostolate A Case for SupportJoin us in answering the call
The apostolate of the laity includes you
materdeiapostolate.org/donate
Phone:210-563-8859 Email: contact@materdeiapostolate.org Mail: PO Box 3359, Duluth, MN 55803 Web: materdeiapostolate.orgYou can also read
