National Celebrate 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 is January 26–February 1 in 2025. The theme for 2025 is “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.” Schools typically observe the annual celebration 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, communities, nation, and world. Find resources and ideas for celebrating here.
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One of the most profound gifts a Catholic education offers—and one that sets it apart from secular public and private schools—is its rich Catholic Identity. Rooted in the deep history and Tradition of the Church, Catholic schools help connect students and faculty to something far greater than themselves—a purpose beyond this world.
As Pope Benedict XVI beautifully wrote in his 2008 address to Catholic educators during his apostolic visit to the United States:
“Education is integral to the mission of the Church to proclaim the Good News. First and foremost, every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth.”
This connection—to Jesus Christ, his Church, and the transformative power of love and truth—is woven within the fabric of a Catholic school. It shapes not only what is taught but also how it is taught. Faith is not just another subject in the curriculum; it is the lens through which all learning is filtered.
Catholic schools help point students, faculty and staff, and families toward this greater reality. They ground us in the pilgrimage of life, reminding us that our ultimate purpose lies not in this world, but in the eternal one. This “gift of vision beyond” is integral to the Catholic school experience. A Catholic education is a gift that connects our children to the rich history of the Church, grounds them in faith, and helps them see the beauty and importance of living for something greater than themselves.
Image credit: © NCEA
