Catholic Schools Week
Superintendent: Catholic Schools
Week an opportunity to ‘see, hear, experience’
BY EMMALEE ITALIA Contributing Editor
W
hen it comes to celebrating faith-based learning, the observance of Catholic Schools Week nationwide brings the tremendous qualities of a Catholic education to the forefront of the dioceses and communities in which Catholic schools serve. Entering its 49th year, the national observance of Catholic Schools Week will take place this year Jan. 29 – Feb. 4, under the theme “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.” Since 1974, the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) has hosted CSW for both elementary and secondary schools in the United States. Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Trenton, believes the most important benefits of Catholic Schools Week are threefold. “First, we celebrate the fact that our Catholic schools are where Christ is alive in our buildings,” he pointed out. “Second,
it’s an opportunity for the greater community to understand the role that Catholic schools play – in individual children, in their families and in communities themselves. And third, it’s a chance to have fun in our Catholic schools in unique ways.” During Catholic Schools Week, Masses and prayer services, open houses and other special events are held to showcase the value of Catholic schools in the community and in the life of the Church. This year, weekly themes include – Sunday: Celebrating Your Parish; Monday: Celebrating Your Community; Tuesday: Celebrating Your Students; Wednesday: Celebrating the Nation; Thursday: Celebrating Vocations; Friday: Celebrating Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., poses joyfully with a group of students from St. Jerome School, West Long Branch, following the school’s 2020 Catholic Schools Week Mass. Rich Hundley photo
For special Catholic Schools Week coverage, be sure to check out the February issue of The Monitor Magazine and TrentonMonitor.com. 40 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE
January 2023