More than 8,000 Catholic Educators Meet in Houston April 2 Through 4

March 29, 2013

Catherine Rogan

March 28, 2013
By Catherine Rogan, Media Relations Specialist for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

HOUSTON -- NCEA 2013, the annual convention of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), will open Monday, April 2 at the George R. Brown convention Center in Houston. The convention ends April 4. This is NCEA's first meeting in Texas in the association’s 109 years.

The meeting is expected to register more than 8,000 educators and exhibitors. More than 300 professional development sessions will offer opportunities to explore teaching, leadership and spiritual themes and 315 exhibiting companies will feature educational support materials.

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will celebrate the opening Mass on Tuesday morning. Immediately following, Father Robert Barron will open the first general session with his talk on new evangelization. Barron, rector of Mundelein Seminary in Chicago, is the well-known host of “Catholicism,” a 10-part documentary series and study program about the Catholic faith.

On Wednesday, Sister Angela Ann Zukowski, a member of the Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart and associate professor at the University of Dayton, will help attendees assess how to incorporate the latest brain research, cultural awareness and journeys in the Internet and cyberspace in our teaching. Wednesday’s liturgy will be celebrated by Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane and chairman of the NCEA board of directors.

Thursday’s liturgy will be celebrated by Msgr. Jeremiah McCarthy, executive director of the NCEA Seminary Department. The closing address will be delivered by William F. Baker, who will explore the psychological principles of why and how leadership works.

Baker directs the Bernard L. Schwartz Center for Media, Public Policy and Education at Fordham University following a distinguished career in broadcasting. He retired in 2008 following 20 years as chief executive officer for WNET 13 in New York. Previously he was president of Westinghouse Television and chairman of Group W Satellite Communications.

The convention provides the occasion to present awards for outstanding performance or support of Catholic education. They include awards in areas such as distinguished pastor, distinguished principal, distinguished teacher, distinguished home and school association, educational excellence, outstanding board and religious educational excellence.

The NCEA Convention and Expo is being held in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.


About NCEA
NCEA, founded in 1904, is a professional membership organization that provides leadership, direction and service to fulfill the evangelizing, catechizing and teaching mission of the church. NCEA's 200,000 members include elementary schools, high schools, parish religious education programs and seminaries.

About the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Catholic Schools:
• The Archdiocese has the largest private school system in Texas.
• There are currently 59 schools in through the counties of the Archdiocese.
• Approximately 18,000 students are enrolled.
• The schools serve students PreK-3 through 12th grade.
• All schools offer need-based tuition assistance for students.