Multimillion-dollar anonymous donation benefits Catholic high school students in Greensburg and Pittsburgh dioceses

Oct. 30—The generosity of an anonymous donor is helping to bridge the financial gap faced by some Catholic school students as they seek to continue their Catholic education into high school.

The same donor has contributed nearly $7.5 million to the St. Pope John Paul Tuition Opportunity Partnership over the past three years.

Catholic schools in the dioceses of Greensburg and Pittsburgh announced a joint program, called Building a Bridge, in September.

The program is designed to connect grade school students in the Alle-Kiski Valley to a high school in their region but in a different diocese.

The program allows students to receive a continuous Catholic school education from pre-­kindergarten through 12th grade at either St. Joseph High School in Natrona Heights, Harrison, or Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School.

The high schools are in different dioceses.

"I would like to thank he or she, whoever donated the money, because without this person we would not be able to have as many people going to these Catholic schools," said Mary Queen of Apostles eighth grader Emmalin Domiano, 13.

Emmalin and her twin sister, Bria, attend the parochial school in New Kensington.

The eighth graders plan to continue their high school education at Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School. Though they won't be crossing over dioceses, they understand that the program will help a lot of other students to accomplish that.

"Getting this amazing education is important," Emmalin said. "Some of my friends talk about how much money Catholic high school can cost, and (some) parents are not exactly happy about it, so this donor is helping."

In addition to the anonymous donation, tuition assistance is available to families in the Diocese of Greensburg through the St. John Paul II Tuition Opportunity Partnership (TOP).

Greensburg Diocese spokeswoman Jennifer Miele said 41% of Greensburg Central Catholic students are receiving TOP funding this school year.

Miele said every GCC student receives financial assistance.

Enrollment at GCC has garnered national recognition, with a 19% increase since 2019.

A Building a Bridge kickoff event was held Oct. 5 for students in grades four through eight at St. Joseph's. Students from Divine Redeemer Catholic School in Ford City also were invited.

Mary Queen of Apostles Principal Cathy Collett praised the initiative Friday for encouraging the idea of a continuous Catholic education.

"This program encourages the idea of preschool to grade 12 Catholic education in the Alle-Kiski Valley," Collett said. "We're hoping that with the support of the parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, families from those areas will consider Mary Queen of Apostles School as a viable option."

Mary Queen of Apostles has an enrollment of 242 students in pre-K through eighth grade, with 89% of those students receiving financial assistance.

Vincent Mlinarcik, 13, plans to attend St. Joseph's for high school.

"My other two siblings already attend St. Joe's, and it's a family tradition," Mlinarcik said. "St. Joe's is starting an esports team (video game sports) so that's cool."

Bria Domiano chose to attend Greensburg Central Catholic for two reasons: her older sibling attends and she has an interest in GCC's arts program.

"I love music, and Greensburg has a better music program, and it means a lot to me to have musical theater and music there," she said. "Their arts program is great."

Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joyce by email at jhanz@triblive.com or via Twitter .