Catholic Schools Week

Catholic Schools Week runs from Sunday, Jan. 31, to Saturday, Feb. 6. National Catholic Schools Week has been celebrated annually since 1974 with special liturgies, open houses and other activities that highlight the importance of Catholic education. Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger will celebrate a Catholic Schools Week Mass on Feb. 5 at 10 a.m., at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany.

The Catholic Schools Week 2021-24 theme is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.” Catholic schools have a specific purpose to form students to be good citizens of the world, love God and neighbor and enrich society with the leaven of the Gospel and by example of faith.

As communities of faith, Catholic schools instill in students their destiny to become saints. Academic excellence is the hallmark of Catholic education intentionally directed to the growth of the whole person — mind, body and spirit. Finally, service is fundamental to Catholic education and the core of Catholic discipleship. Service is intended to help form people who are not only witnesses to Catholic social teaching, but also active participants through social learning.

The CSW logo emphasizes that the Catholic school, like the Catholic Church, is not a building or an institution, but it is the people. As the people of God, we work together to bring the Kingdom of God to Earth and raise up the next generation to do the same. The image of teachers and students forming the foundation of the school shows that they are active people of faith who serve others and God. May we all strive to live in active service of Jesus and his mission as we nationally join together during Catholic Schools Week and always. Source: ncea.org