This week The Tablet highlights Sister Gladys Anyanwu, a first grade teacher at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. Sister Gladys is but one of a handful of women religious still standing at the head of the classroom in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

The image of a nun standing before a classroom, guiding students through lessons infused with faith, had long been a cornerstone of Catholic education.

According to a 2024 report from the National Catholic Educational Association, only 1.5% of teachers in Catholic schools in the United States are nuns— a far cry from 1920, when they accounted for 92% of all teachers. By 1970, the number had dropped to 48%, and by 2000, it was just 7%, the report shows. While very capable lay women and men have filled the void left by the declining numbers of women religious, it’s a profound loss for the soul of Catholic parochial schools.

The presence the sisters offered was far more than just instruction; it embodied a living witness to faith, sacrifice, and service. They brought an authenticity to teaching religion that resonated deeply with students, shaping not just minds but hearts. Today, with their numbers dwindling — some estimates suggest as few as 25 nuns teach across the entire Diocese of Brooklyn — schools face the challenge of fostering Catholic identity without the women who once defined it.

Diocesan officials across the country acknowledge the struggle but offer little in the way of concrete solutions, leaving schools to navigate this crisis on their own. Religious education requires more than curriculum; it demands a presence that inspires. A nun’s life, dedicated wholly to God, serves as a powerful model for students grappling with questions of purpose and morality. This is not to say the situation is hopeless. In places like Nigeria, religious vocations are flourishing, hinting at potential for renewal.

But the U.S.Church cannot rely on importing sisters — it must cultivate its own. This requires bold steps: investing in vocation programs, engaging young women in parishes, and showcasing the joy and meaning of religious life. Without women religious, schools risk becoming indistinguishable from their secular counterparts, diluting the very mission that justifies their existence. Parents choose Catholic schools for their values, but those values are harder to impart when the educators who once embodied them are nearly gone.

Catholic schools, too, must play a role, fostering environments where students can encounter the beauty of faith and perhaps hear a call to serve. Scholarships, mentorships, and partnerships with religious orders could help bridge the gap. The absence of nuns in Catholic parochial schools is a warning — a sign that the Church’s ability to form the next generation hangs in the balance. Nostalgia alone won’t reverse the trend. It’s time for bishops, educators, and families to act with urgency, ensuring that the legacy of women who shaped Catholic education endures.

The parochial classroom, where faith meets learning, deserves nothing less. He has risen, hallelujah, hallelujah. Happy Easter.