By Dr. Nina Beck, Lincoln Diocesan Education Office
Catholic Schools Week 2020 begins Sunday, Jan. 26.
The entire community is invited to help celebrate.
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, until Feb. 1. The theme for Catholic School Week is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.”
In the Lincoln Diocese, Catholic Schools Week is observed as an annual celebration week with special Masses, Governor Ricketts signing proclamations, open houses, talent shows, guest readers, and activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. Through these events, Catholic Schools will focus on the value that Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our Church, our communities and our nation. National Catholic Schools Week is celebrating its 46th year in 2020.
The Catholic Schools, in the Lincoln Diocese, invites the community to get to know our schools better. Community members are invited to join us Monday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ for a Eucharistic Holy Hour (“Light the Night”). Everyone is welcome.
Catholic Schools are communities of Learning. Catholic Schools exist to pass on Learning, not just the practical learning of reading, writing arithmetic and so on, but also knowledge of God and Truth, which is our spiritual heritage as Catholics, who believe there is no conflict between faith and learning. The Catholic intellectual tradition shows us that faith and learning each illuminate the other and allow us to pursue Truth and reason without fear… because God is the source of all Learning and Truth.
Catholic Schools are communities of faith, learning and most importantly, Service. Service is the key to the Christian Life, because when Jesus called his disciples, He immediately sent them to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick… an example to follow. He went about Galilee teaching, preaching and healing.
At its root, is Service not a form of healing? When we help shovel snow for a neighbor, are we not healing a bit of loneliness as we remove the snow? When we collect gloves and hats for children in need, are we not healing a bit of the anxiety and fear felt by parents who are experiencing a difficult time?
Service is an expression of love and care; it is an integral part of life of Catholic Schools, which are committed communities of service, places where helping one another and aiding the needy are “modus operandi”… it is the normal way of living life.
Students in Catholic Schools are held to high academic standards… so they learn to Lead and Succeed. Catholic Schools educate the whole child; mind, spirit and body. We work to ensure every child is well-rounded with courses in technology, art, literature, music, science, math, physical education and religion. We proudly teach students about God.
Catholic School students openly pray and worship God on a daily basis. Classroom prayers and regular Masses form the minds, hearts and souls of students, helping them to Lead and Succeed as committed Christian disciples.
Our Catholic Schools provide a safe and disciplined environment where each student is expected to reach his or her potential. We do everything possible to make certain that students become everything they can be within our Catholic Communities as they Learn, Serve, Lead and Succeed.
