Catholic Schools Week: Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Catholic Schools Week

National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2015 is Jan. 25-31. Schools typically observe National Catholic Schools Week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.

The theme for the National Catholic Schools Week 2015 is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” Each Catholic school community is a member of the larger community of home, church, city and nation. The Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of San Antonio are closely connected to the larger church community through the Pastoral Priorities set forth by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS — Encountering Christ, United as Church, Sent by the Spirit. The Catholic identity and faith formation students encounter daily is the foundation upon which academic excellence is delivered. Encountering Christ through daily prayer, liturgical celebrations, and rich traditions of the Catholic faith is at the core of our students’ educational experience. We boast a 99 percent graduation rate of Catholic high school students (as compared to the 78.2 percent national average for public schools) knowing our students are academically well-prepared for the challenges of college.

A central aspect of Catholic education is the importance and commitment of service to others. All students take part in service activities, both at a local level and beyond. Last year alone, the high school class of 2014 in the Archdiocese of San Antonio provided 105,130 hours of community service, demonstrating the values and faith they gained through their Catholic education while learning how to make the world a better place. What better way is there to Unite as Church than to be of service allowing others to Encounter Christ through us?

We invite you to join in our celebration of Catholic education during this special week by visiting our school open houses, joining us in the celebration of the Eucharist at one of the school Masses, or attending the annual Hope for the Future Khaki & Plaid Gala on Jan. 31, raising funds for tuition assistance ensuring Catholic education remains an option for all students who may not be able to afford it otherwise.