In the heart of West Michigan, San Juan Diego Academy (SJDA) is more than a school—it’s a lifeline of faith, hope, and opportunity for children from immigrant families striving for a better future. Nestled within the vibrant Hispanic communities of Grand Rapids and Wyoming, this K–8 Catholic school is a place where students are known, loved, and empowered to grow spiritually, academically, and personally. Many of these families face steep economic and social challenges, but SJDA walks alongside them with a promise: that their children will receive not only a strong education, but the gift of being formed in the Catholic faith. 

For Deacon Fernando Gutierrez, the most important aspect of his children’s upbringing is raising them within the supportive environment of the Catholic community. “In most schools, there is no room for God at all. But when your children are in a school where they can learn about God, it is a tremendous blessing.” 

Fernando serves as a deacon at the Shrine of St. Francis Xavier & Our Lady of Guadalupe in Grand Rapids. As a devoted father of six, he has chosen Catholic education for his children, sending them to San Juan Diego Academy and Catholic Central High School. “Providing our children with a Catholic education is a privilege and a blessing. It all starts there,” said Deacon Fernando.

Investing in Future Catholic Leaders

The Academy embodies the future of Catholic education and evangelization in a church where approximately 70% of all practicing Catholics under the age of 35 are Latino, according to a report from the Alliance for Catholic Education at the University of Notre Dame. As SJDA alum Fernando Garcia Jr. shared, “When you invest in San Juan Diego, you are investing not just in academics, but in future Hispanic Catholic leaders for our Church and our world. You are helping children from families like mine — families who dared to dream and found a place where that dream could take root and grow. You are changing lives just like mine.” 

Since its founding in 2011, SJDA has helped students achieve remarkable academic success. Nearly all go on to local Catholic high schools, where they graduate at a 99% rate — a hallmark of Catholic education. From there, 87.5% continue on to four-year colleges. By comparison, just 39.5% of students from nearby schools make that same leap. It’s a stark difference, and it sends young lives in different directions. 

As a parent of two students at SJDA, Maria de la Luz Martinez said, “Enrolling my children in an excellent education at San Juan Diego Academy is the most important thing I have done in my life. The teachers are very kind and professional, and more than anything, the Academy teaches values. The Academy teaches them respect. It teaches them how to share. It teaches them to be empathetic with others. And I love that.” 

Where Faith Meets Financial Need

San Juan Diego Academy is unlike other Catholic schools in our region. It was founded to serve families who are rich in faith and hope, but who face significant financial hardship. For these parents, a Catholic education is a dream they cannot realize on their own. Unlike most schools that rely on tuition to cover the majority of their expenses, SJDA depends almost entirely on the generosity of donors to keep its doors open. Community support brings this dream to life — making it possible for children to grow in faith, knowledge, and opportunity in a nurturing Catholic environment. 

To continue their vital work and expand their capacity to serve more children and families, SJDA embarked on a $1.2 million fundraising campaign to build a bridge to the school’s future. As part of the campaign, two anonymous couples established The St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Education Mission Fund with the Catholic Foundation of West Michigan. This Agency Fund, a type of charitable investment fund, supports the general operations and greatest needs of SJDA. The fund is invested for growth and the school can draw from the fund in its entirety. 

“This capacity-building campaign is more than a request for the funds that will sustain San Juan Diego Academy. It is a plea for the future of the children who are the future of our Church,” said Father Charlie Brown, canonical administrator of SJDA. “The children who have graduated from SJDA, the children in our classrooms now, and the children we hope to serve in coming years will one day be faithful members and leaders of the Church they love. We need to give them our best now so that they can give their best in the future.”

Gratitude and Growth

Faithful from across the diocese continue to step forward to help ensure the academy remains financially stable with gifts both directly to SJDA and to The St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Education Mission Fund. Their generosity provides scholarships and financial aid to families who cannot afford tuition, aids in recruiting and retaining excellent educators who are committed to the mission, and supports a curriculum that meets the students’ needs, including English as a second language, dual language immersion, arts education, and extracurricular activities. “Our students and their families face many challenges,” said Kristina Martinez-Precious, principal at San Juan Diego Academy. “We are grateful for the community’s support, which allows us to equip our students with the academic, moral, and spiritual formation that will enrich their lives and help them embrace their potential. ¡Sí se puede!”.