Welcome Mr. Chad Barwick!

June 26, 2023

By ROB HERBST
The Catholic Week
MOBILE – Chad Barwick is back home.
The new superintendent of Catholic schools/executive director of Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Mobile officially began June 14. Barwick is only the second superintendent in the past 40 years for Catholic schools in the archdiocese as he’s succeeded longtime superintendent Gwen Byrd, who retired at the end of the 2022-23 school year.
Barwick admitted it’s a strange feeling taking over for Byrd, although a return home to the Archdiocese of Mobile is comforting. Barwick was raised in Montgomery, graduated from Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, then served as principal of the middle school and high school campuses from 2012-16.
“It’s a joy,” Barwick said. “It’s also a strange feeling, walking into Gwen’s office as the superintendent after decades of visiting as her friend and as an employee of the archdiocese. It reminds me what big shoulders I’m standing on.”
Barwick was named Byrd’s successor in February, when he served as head of school at Archbishop Hannan High School in Covington, La. “The last few months have been kind of bilocation, which I don’t have that gift the saints have,” he joked.
But recently, Barwick was able to meet several principals from Catholic schools in the archdiocese.
Having served at Montgomery Catholic, Barwick is also familiar with much of the personnel at schools throughout the archdiocese and the Office of Catholic Schools.
“(Being with the principals) was wonderful,” he said. “I know most of them from Montgomery Catholic time, but the new ones were super-welcoming. They’re really capable. When you get them in a room, you realize what a gift our leadership is in our schools.”
He added: “The Mobile archdiocese is a gem. You can take it for granted if you’re not really analyzing it. … Coming back home and seeing these principals, it’s a great ministry. Some of the things we’re going to do is remind them of that, remind them of how they are a blessing to the archdiocese and we are going to roll up our sleeves and serve.”
Barwick had served at Archbishop Hannan High School since 2020. He also served as president of St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta from 2016-20 and St. Anthony de Padua Catholic School in South Bend, Ind., from 2009-12.
Barwick also served as Senior Associate Director for the Alliance for Catholic Education Fellowship at the University of Notre Dame and has held other teaching assignments. In all, Barwick has nearly 25 years of experience in Catholic education.
“I have to trust God has a plan and I think God’s plan is often times humorous. But each and every one of those places has equipped me with a better vision for Catholic education and has seen a group of people who do it differently,” Barwick said. “But it’s also been trust in God to say ‘OK, this is uncomfortable’ to go from being a teacher to a principal, to being a principal of a middle school and high school at my alma mater. ... Every one of those vocational missions has given me a different tool kit.”
With six children ranging from a high school senior to a student in pre-K, Barwick also brings a broad perspective
“It really helps to have a senior in high school this year all the way down to a pre-K student because it forces you to think globally. It isn’t just my high school or my middle school. That really propelled me to saying ‘What can I do to help out?’”
While much focus may be on the superintendent title Barwick has, his position as director of Catholic education also impacts the archdiocese.
Offices such as Evangelization and Family Life, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry are under Barwick’s leadership.
“If you really have a holistic look at the ministry, catechesis is from birth to natural death. I think it’s a beautiful setup here,” he said.
He added, “it’s a really vibrant time. It’s intimidating because you want to get things done. You want to start changing the world. You want to bring God’s Kingdom here. What’s the most practical way to do it?”