by Dr. Nina Beck, assistant superintendent of schools
Sunday, Jan. 30, marked the beginning of Catholic Schools Week, the annual celebration of Catholic Education. This is the time to celebrate the good work and tremendous positive social impact Catholic Schools make in communities.
Schools observe the week with special Masses, assemblies, and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members to celebrate and congratulate the great work and good news of Catholic Schools.
The theme is “Catholic Schools: Faith, Excellence, and Service.” Catholic Schools have a specific purpose to form students to be saints who love God, and neighbor, who are good citizens of the world, and enrich society with the leaven of the Gospel and by the example of Faith. Academic excellence is the hallmark of Catholic education intentionally directed to the growth of the whole person- mind, body, and soul. Service is fundamental to Catholic education and the core of Catholic discipleship. Service is intended to help form people who are not only witnesses to Catholic social teaching but also active participants.
Catholic Schools form the largest network of private schools in the United States. Total Catholic elementary/middle and high school enrollment is over 1.8 million students. More than 5,000 elementary/middle schools educate over 1.3 million of that total, with 1,200 high schools forming another 560,000. There are Catholic colleges, universities, Catholic medical, law and business schools.
Most recently, efforts are being made to create Catholic trade schools, connecting the dignity of labor and the trades to our Catholic worldview.
While the numbers are interesting and relevant, they can only scratch the surface of what Catholic education contributes to local communities and the world through the Church. This contribution is a reflection of the true purpose and genius of Catholic education: to form each person, to cherish a life-long relationship with God, and to become a missionary disciple of Jesus Christ by promoting human and divine wisdom that not only informs the mind, but also shapes the world. All persons are life-long learners, who build upon the foundations of their earliest experiences.
Catholic Schools seek to root those foundations deeply in faith, excellence, and service. Administrators, faculties, and staffs are honored as well as the donors and volunteers who share their stewardship of time, talent, and treasure invested in the students.
When the Diocesan Education team travels to schools amid the distancing requirements and creative use of technology and space, it is seen that students and teachers are very happy and grateful to be together. They are beautiful communities of faith. Children are thriving because teachers and administrators are mission-driven and faithfully dedicated to their vocations. As Gospel witnesses for their students, Catholic educators help students grow in confidence to use the gifts with which God has blessed them, while guiding them to know, love and serve Jesus in their lives.
Heartfelt and sincere appreciation is offered to the Catholic school parents, who have taken the necessary steps to ensure their children, are provided with sound faith formation and excellence in education. To all those who pray for the success of this mission of the Church and to the alumni who enrich their communities with the fruits of their Catholic school years, thanks is extended. In addition, the students are honored, who are the heart of Catholic education.
While times and circumstances bring each year’s particular set of challenges, Catholic education has the same resources as the founder of the Catholic school system did: God’s love, divine grace, the wisdom of the Church through the ages, and the help of the Holy Spirit. With these, Catholic school communities will live together in faith, strive for excellence, and offer service to those in need as contributors to the world.
