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CV NEWS FEED // In a news release to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) stated that the goal of Catholic education is to contribute to “not only the flourishing of each individual, but also their ultimate salvation.”
According to Trenton, New Jersey, Bishop David M. O’Connell, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Catholic Education, Catholic schools are uniquely able to provide an “education model rooted in the recognition of the inherent dignity of every person.” He also thanked Catholic educators for facilitating the education model and for their dedication to the formation of their students.
“Catholic schools nurture humility, wisdom, and virtue, guiding students to recognize and embrace what is true, good, and beautiful,” Bishop O’Connell added. “This education empowers them to live lives of service to God and others, offering a freedom that only Christ can provide.”
Bishop O’Connell also stressed the role that parents and families play in Catholic education, calling parents the first educators of their children.
“Catholic schools are committed to working alongside them, deeply incorporating families into both the life of the school and the Church,” he continued.
Bishop O’Connell additionally thanked Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt and Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood for introducing bipartisan, bicameral resolutions that honor and celebrate National Catholic Schools Week. Schmitt and LaHood, who are both Republicans, graduated from Catholic schools.
“Catholic schools create an environment to help students thrive academically and socially, while preparing students for their future careers and a life of integrity and service,” LaHood stated in a news release. “Catholic education prepared me for my experiences as a husband, father, and member of Congress. I will always support our Catholic schools, and I thank the teachers and faculty for their commitment to our nation’s students.”
Schmitt added, “Catholic schools help instill a values-added education, emphasizing the lifelong development of moral, intellectual, and social values among our nation’s youth.”
According to the USCCB, Catholic Schools Week is celebrated annually during the last week of January, when parishes and schools “celebrate the history and contributions of Catholic education in the United States in their local communities.” The 2025 theme is “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.”
