Catholic Schools Week will be observed from January 26 to February 1, during which our schools offer a variety of programs and activities. Phone the school near you for information about how it is celebrating Catholic Schools Week and inquire if you can arrange a visit.
The theme of Catholic Schools Week describes in three words what a Catholic school is all about: “faith, excellence and service.”
This year, Catholic Schools Week takes place during the Jubilee Year of Hope with its invitation to be pilgrims of hope. Catholic schools are beacons of hope for our students and their families.
In our nation, political correctness and popular secularity continue to have a deep impact and influence on public education. Not so for Catholic schools, which partner with parents in the formation of their children and not with Hollywood or the latest misunderstanding of the human person.
Catholic schools are beacons of hope. Charles Péguy, the 19th century French poet and essayist, wrote that hope is a “childlike virtue.” Catholic school children grow in the virtue of hope through the genius of a Catholic education.
The logo for the Jubilee Year pictures people in a boat tossed by rough waters. At the helm of the boat is a cross; below the cross, an anchor. The passengers are safe despite the turbulences with which they deal. The cross dominates the scene. It is the sign of the Savior. Christ is our hope.
Students in a Catholic school are anchored in Christ. The faith-filled atmosphere of the school keeps them safe from popular contemporary influences.
Additionally, the excellence of the academics and curriculum prepares the student for the technological world in which they live; the classroom enjoys an environment of order and discipline; education standards prevail; students are not subject to the latest philosophy of the human person; the commitment and professionalization of faculty and administrators and exposure to the faith-based traditions of the Catholic faith – all of this helps to form a well-rounded student, intellectually, physically and spiritually.
The whole person is the subject of a Catholic education. Moral development is emphasized, and children are taught respect of self and others and the value of service. Our students are expected to achieve.
A cross hangs in each classroom and other public spaces throughout Catholic schools. It is our Christian sign. God became fully human, suffered the consequences of humanity – including death – and from it, rose to life. The cross is prominent in our Catholic schools. Learning about the cross teaches our students about the love of God who so loves them, he died for them. How assuring, how wholesome to know that you are so loved by God.
The firm anchor of faith in Christ lasts for the lifetime of each student. It helps each student endure and survive the storms and troubles of life, which happen to everyone. Catholic religion is taught. It provides a foundation in faith and morals, which lasts for a lifetime.
A Catholic school is a community. All come together in prayer. Parents and families are involved in the events that each school sponsors. They work together and contribute to many projects for the betterment of the school. The school community looks outside the area in which it is located and responds to what is beyond its doors. Our students learn to share hope with those outside the school, especially the poor and the needy. They learn that to serve is to fully live.
A Catholic school evangelizes. A goal is that each student has a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. He reaches the heart of the student who flourishes and grows humanly, academically and spiritually from his or her encounter with the living Christ.
Our Catholic schools make significant contributions to our South Jersey society and to our nation. They produce productive citizens and future leaders. Children learn in our schools. They are wholesomely formed. The Catholic Church has been in the business of education for centuries. We know what we are doing, and we do it well.
Let’s celebrate Catholic Schools Week 2025.
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