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Archbishop Cardinal Frank Leo speaking at the Ordinandi Dinner, March 2025.
Photo courtesy Archdiocese of Toronto
August 27, 2026
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Editor’s note: Toronto’s Cardinal Frank Leo recently released a resource to help guide discernment for those contemplating running for school board trustee in municipal elections this fall. The Register shares some of the Cardinal’s guide here:
Why should I consider becoming a Catholic school board trustee?
Serving as a Catholic school board trustee is an opportunity to place your faith, gifts and experience at the service of Christ, His Church and future generations of students. Through their governance role, trustees help ensure that Catholic schools remain faithful to their mission of forming young people in faith, knowledge and virtue while supporting educational excellence. For many trustees, this is not simply a public office — it is a vocation of service.
Why are Catholic school trustees important?
Catholic trustees help preserve one of the Church’s most important ministries. Their leadership helps ensure that Catholic schools continue to:
What does a Catholic school trustee do?
Catholic school trustees provide governance and strategic leadership for their local Catholic school board. Among their responsibilities are:
Trustees establish and monitor direction and policy. They do not manage the day-to-day operations of schools.
Who should consider serving?
You may wish to discern this ministry if you:
No particular professional background is required. Trustees come from many walks of life.
“The Church depends upon faithful lay women and men who are willing to place their gifts at the service of Christ and His people. If you have been invited to consider serving as a Catholic school board trustee, take that invitation to prayer. The Lord often calls us in simple and unexpected ways. Ask Him whether this may be the way He is inviting you to help preserve and strengthen the gift of Catholic education for future generations,” said Cardinal Leo.
What qualities make an effective trustee?
Faithful Catholic trustees are called to be:
Before you say yes... Pray and reflect.
Perhaps someone has approached you and encouraged you to consider serving as a Catholic school trustee. You may be honoured by the invitation, excited by the opportunity or perhaps even surprised. Before making a decision, take time to pray.
Throughout Sacred Scripture, God calls ordinary people to serve in extraordinary ways. Moses, Esther, Peter and countless others did not feel fully prepared when they were called. They responded not because they had every answer, but because they trusted that God would guide them.
The same is true today.
Serving as a Catholic school trustee is more than accepting a public office. It is an opportunity to place your gifts at the service of Christ, His Church and the young people entrusted to our Catholic schools.
A version of this story appeared in the August 30, 2026, issue of The Catholic Registerwith the headline "Could you be a Catholic school board trustee?".
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