The Diocese of Grand Rapids is currently seeking a superintendent to begin in July 2025, following the current superintendent’s retirement.
The diocese is home to 180,000 Catholics across 79 parishes and maintains a vibrant presence in Catholic education. There is an alliance of 31 vibrant, faith-filled learning communities serving more than 6,400 students across 26 elementary schools and five high schools.
There has been demonstrated enrollment growth in seven of the last ten years with four years of consecutive growth presently. This stems from establishing a shared vision for an alliance of Catholic schools expanding outstanding educational ministry and implementing new governance models diocesan-wide that feature boards of limited jurisdiction. Bishop Walkowiak is an ardent supporter of Catholic schools. One of his first episcopal priorities was the Bishop’s Catholic Schools Initiative, a three-year, three-part effort that strengthened Catholic schools in the diocese by increasing affordability through scholarships, building the professional capacity of the Office of Catholic schools, and creating a plan for the future vitality of Catholic schools in the diocese.
The next superintendent will discover extraordinary commitment and talent among principals, teachers, staff, and volunteer leadership. There is profound and warranted pride in the educational accomplishments of the diocese. There is also a recognition of the opportunities to be undertaken, which include: financial realities and the desire to maintain affordable tuitions, the creative and visionary need to promote academic excellence and ongoing faith formation that is transformational and Christ-centered, shifting demographics, increased need to advocate for school choice options, changes nationally in traditional school governance structures, and demographic trends impacting sustainability.
All inquiries and applications will be treated with the highest degree of confidentiality and respect.