Students pray during the Catholic Schools Mass celebrated in October in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. Mike Ehrmann photo
Catholic schools offer classrooms that reflect the Gospel A Message from
BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M. for Catholic Schools Week
I
had the privilege of meeting Pope Leo XIV for the first time recently, and I was deeply moved by the warmth, joy and pastoral attentiveness he radiated as he greeted pilgrims gathered in Rome for the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope. In his presence, one sensed a shepherd who truly believes in the promise of the Church’s future — especially as it is nurtured through Catholic education.
Earlier in his pontificate, the Holy Father wrote, “The Catholic school is an environment in which faith, culture and life intertwine. It is not simply an institution, but rather a living environment in which the Christian vision permeates 46 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
every discipline and every interaction” (Apostolic Letter Drawing New Maps of Hope, art. 5.2, October 27, 2025). These words beautifully capture the essence of what we celebrate during Catholic Schools Week 2026.
February 2026
This year’s theme, “Catholic Schools – United in Faith and Community,” invites us to reflect on the distinctive gift our schools offer to the Church and to society. Catholic schools are not merely places where students receive an excellent education – though they certainly do that as well. They are communities of belonging, where faith is shared, values are lived, and young people are formed to see themselves as beloved sons and daughters of God, called to serve others. In a world marked by division, loneliness and rapid change, our Catholic schools stand as signs of unity and hope. Pope Leo XIV reminds us, “In Catholic schools, no one walks alone. The child who learns, the teacher who guides, and the family who accompanies are bound together by a shared journey toward truth and love” (Address to Catholic Educators, January 15, 2026). Our schools teach students not only how to think