Special section, pages 9-25, salutes Catholic education

From Jan. 29 to Feb. 4, the schools of the Albany Diocese will celebrate Catholic Schools Week with seven days of activities -- academic, artistic, musical, athletic and spiritual.

Catholics Schools Week is an annual celebration of the benefits of Catholic education. This year's national slogan is "Catholic Schools: Character, Compassion, Values."

Catholic Schools Week is a joint project of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for the nation's 7,800 Catholic schools.

Events

"Catholic Schools Week is an important custom that students and faculty look forward to each year," said Sister Mary Jane Herb, IHM, superintendent of diocesan schools. "This year's theme underscores three distinct qualities that identify Catholic education: character, compassion and values. They are a part of each school's Catholic identity and are at the very heart of everything we do."

In addition to activities at each school, two diocesan-wide events are scheduled for Catholic Schools Week:

* An art exhibit at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, Jan. 30-Feb. 3. A reception on the South Concourse, Jan. 31, 3:30-5 p.m., will include musical performances by students from St. Mary's Academy in Hoosick Falls and Saratoga Central Catholic High School. Bishop Howard J. Hubbard will speak.

* A biennial Faith Formation Day for teachers and administrators, Feb. 2 at St. Pius X in Loudonville, which includes a liturgy celebrated by Bishop Hubbard. The guest speaker is Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of "Dead Man Walking" and "The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions."

'Unique' schools

"We invite everyone in the community to get acquainted with our schools during Catholic Schools Week to learn why Catholic education is so unique," said Sister Jane.

The Albany Diocese has 33 schools -- 29 elementary and four high -- in nine of its 14 counties. Enrollment is 7,612.

For more information, visit www.rcdaschools.org.

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