CV News Feed // Next week marks the 50th anniversary of the annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week, a week commemorating the ministry of Catholic schools across the United States.
For 50 years, Catholic Schools Week has been celebrated from the last Sunday of January through the rest of the week. During the week, Catholic schools across the country host a variety of events to commemorate the week, including special masses, open houses, and fun events for the students.
In 1974, the USCCB and the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) co-sponsored the event after they decided that there should be a week celebrating the good work and ministry of Catholic schools across the country.
“Catholic schools have an irreplaceable role in the Church’s evangelizing mission. Building on the central goal of Catholic schools to form saints, Catholic schools teach and embrace the whole person—body, mind, and spirit,” the NCEA said in a statement.
This year, the theme for the week is the Catholic School’s United in Faith and Community. The theme was selected in 2023 and will continue to be the theme through 2026.
“The fact that all members of a Catholic school community share the Christian vision of faith that Christ is the foundation of Catholic education is what unites the school as a faith-filled community,” shared the NCEA.
A major goal of Catholic Schools Week is to encourage Catholic Schools to reach out to the surrounding community and invite them to participate in the mission of the school.
“Catholic school communities expand beyond the walls of school buildings to envelop the family as an integral part of the school community. Together, teachers, administrators, staff, students, and parents fuel the light of faith by integrating culture with faith and faith with living.”
