The powerful intersection of Catholic education and artificial intelligence (AI) was the theme at the Diocese of Allentown’s biannual teacher convention, Inspire ’25, on Oct. 13 at Berks Catholic High School, Reading.
Teachers from across the Diocese came together to explore how new technologies can serve Catholic mission and pedagogy while remaining firmly grounded in faith.
“Pope Leo XIV has been very clear that artificial intelligence is a powerful influence in today’s culture and in our educational systems,” said Dr. Michael St. Pierre, Superintendent of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Allentown. “We decided that Inspire ’25 was the perfect venue for having conversations about AI that ground our thinking in the context of Church teaching.”
The day began with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Alfred Schlert in the school auditorium, concelebrated by seven priests from the Reading region. In his homily, Bishop Schlert reflected on the unique vocation of Catholic educators.
“Catholic schools are sacred places where faith and knowledge meet,” he said. “Every Catholic school teacher, administrator, and staff member shares in the Church’s mission of evangelization. You are witnesses to Christ in the classroom. You help students encounter the living God in the ordinary moments of learning.”
Bishop Schlert urged educators to remember that their witness is essential in a time where many young people live “in a digital world that is always connected yet deeply isolating.” He emphasized that teachers have the power to remind students of their inherent dignity.
“You are the ones who can look a student in the eye, call them by name and remind them that they are a beloved child of God. They’re not a username, not a profile, not a number, not a collection of pixels. You teach them not only how to think, but how to love rightly.”
He concluded by reminding teachers that Catholic schools are strongest when “the Holy Eucharist is at the center of our lives” and when “Christ’s love is visible among our students and teachers.”
Following Mass, Sister Nancy Usselmann, FSP, Director of Pauline Media Studies, delivered the keynote address. A theologian, media literacy educator, and author, Sister Nancy is known for helping Catholics navigate the media landscape with faith and discernment.
Her talk examined both the opportunities and challenges of AI and how Catholic educators can help form missionary disciples in a digital age.
“We can both be excited and cautious about AI,” she told the hundreds of diocesan teachers and administrators.
Sister Nancy described how AI is already part of everyday life – from predictive algorithms on social media and online shopping recommendations to virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa. She also explained the difference between analytic AI and newer generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Midjourney, which can create content based on user input.
While some worry about AI replacing human roles, Sister Nancy reassured attendees that the human person’s place “can never be taken by an algorithm or machine.” She emphasized that AI should promote human development, not replace it, and urged Catholic educators to discern how to use technology in ways that reflect Christian values and human dignity.
She reminded teachers that while AI can generate content, only human beings – endowed with morality, spirituality, and creativity – can truly create. And she challenged teachers to help raise a new generation of “Catholic innovators and developers” who can shape AI with virtue and moral clarity.
Sister Nancy encouraged educators to practice “media spirituality,” engaging thoughtfully with technology, knowing when to connect and when to take a break.
“You all have an amazing responsibility in the digital culture,” she said. “I admire your persevering witness and your dedication to a holistic education imbued with Catholic values.”
John Petruzzelli, Principal of Berks Catholic, sees many “opportunities for AI in the classroom,” including gamification and writing assistance through tools like ChatGPT.
“It’s something teachers want to learn and use effectively,” he said. “I appreciate that the Diocese is addressing AI head on and looking for ways to incorporate it into Catholic education that are appropriate and helpful.”
Heather Maigur, Assistant Director of Catholic Ministry at Bethlehem Catholic High School, said she looks forward to the convention every two years to “learn new tools to enrich the classroom and connect with fellow teachers.”
In the afternoon, attendees chose from various breakout sessions that explored topics such as responsible AI practices in elementary education, helping students thrive in a phone-based culture, understanding how children remember and cherish learning, fostering creativity in an AI age, and using AI to bring transformational learning to life.
The Inspire ’25 convention demonstrated the Diocese of Allentown’s commitment to embracing innovation without losing sight of faith. As educators prepare students for a rapidly changing world, they are also helping them encounter Christ in every lesson and every prayer.
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