When parents arrive at one of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Catholic schools, they typically come for one of three reasons: the physical and psychological safety of their children, academic rigor and a desire for a faith-based education.

That’s what we aspire to provide for the nearly 25,000 students enrolled in Catholic schools in the archdiocese by empowering students to reach their full potential — spiritually, intellectually, physically, socially and morally.

The charge is great given the uncertainty of our time, with significant tension at home and abroad. Domestically, Maryland’s underserved communities grapple with a lack of opportunities and pervasive violence. Internationally, conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza contribute to severe issues, ranging from starvation to existential threats to global peace and prosperity.

What’s at risk if we don’t meet the mind, body and spiritual needs of young people is a devasting lack of hope that is already a corrosive force in too many hearts in our increasingly secularized country.

I don’t write to suggest that a Catholic education is a panacea, but studies regularly show faith is highly correlated with hope, and people find immense meaning in their lives because of their faith. We could use more of that now.

One of the recent studies on this subject has been done by Brigham Young University. Released last fall, the study includes nearly 200 families representing the Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions. It shows a family’s faith tradition promotes a sense of hope for their future and builds their resiliency in the face of personal challenges. The families, regardless of their religious tradition, cited their faith as a “wellspring of hope, drawing strength from their belief in God’s active involvement in their lives,” according to the university. Parents longed to instill the same hope in their children, Brigham Young researchers said, because of faith’s positive impact amid the challenges they faced in their own lives. What’s more, the researchers say faith is a meaningful way to confront the epidemic of loneliness in today’s society and grow collective resiliency through the power of religious practices in fortifying relationships.

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore welcome children from all backgrounds: Across all of our schools, an average of 40% of our students are children from non-Catholic families; the percentage is much higher for schools in the heart of Baltimore City. Survey data shows families appreciate the emphasis in our schools on prayers, morals and values.

Our schools have been a constant and steady presence in Maryland for more than 200 years, including Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, founded in 1828 as the country’s first Catholic school for children of color by Mother Mary Lange, who is a candidate for sainthood. Altogether, there are 54 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese, among more than 225,000 in the world that educate about 62 million children.

In addition to faith and hope, our Catholic schools in the archdiocese offer excellent educational outcomes for young people, with five archdiocesan schools advancing this year in the national Blue Ribbon process out of a possible 50 non-public schools in the nation that can be nominated for the prestigious awards. The average high school graduation rate for Catholic school students in Maryland stands at almost 100% with the majority of the graduating class continuing into college or military service.

Another hallmark of our schools is the focus on service. Students learn how to put others first and actively contribute to their community. From preschool to 12th grade, students participate in service projects throughout the year, including collecting items for food pantries, volunteering at senior centers and helping build homes for people in developing countries.

As a retired banker, I would be remiss to not also mention that the children enrolled in Catholic schools in the archdiocese save state taxpayers an estimated $493 million a year when factoring in the average of $19,820 the state of Maryland spends per student in public classrooms.

Archdiocesan schools spend $8,762 to educate one child as part of our mission to make a Catholic education affordable and accessible to all who seek it through scholarships, endowments and generous contributions from our parish communities.

Catholic schools are but one part of the excellent education ecosystem in Maryland. We represent options for families rooted in faith, hope — and God’s enduring love.

Gregory A. Farno (gregory.farno@archbalt.org) is chancellor of education for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. After a 45-year career in finance, he retired in September from Truist Financial Corporation as regional president for Maryland.