Welcome to Catholic Schools Week! Catholic Schools Week is not just a week-long event; it is a reminder of the commitment we have made to provide a Catholic education that nurtures the mind, body and spirit of our young learners. The theme for this year’s celebration, “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community,” encapsulates the essence of our mission to instill knowledge, promote a personal relationship with Jesus, encourage service to others, foster leadership skills and ultimately empower our students to succeed in all aspects of their lives.
Throughout the week, our school will host various activities and events that showcase the exceptional qualities of Catholic education. From special liturgical celebrations to service projects that give back to our local communities, each day will offer opportunities for our students to engage in the values that define our faith.
God has blessed us with a strong and healthy school, which has become the school of choice for a growing number of households in our community and beyond. We have strong leadership and vision in our administration teams and professionalism and sacrificial dedication among our faculty and staff. Our strong sense of Catholic identity is thanks to the efforts of many people, who help us do things with the spirit of the Gospel. Our school is a vital part of the community of Queen of All Saints parish.
Catholic schools have a specific purpose: first and foremost, to form students to love God, to know Christ and to live out Christian values. Students grow to be good citizens of the world, to love our neighbor and to enrich society with the truth of the Gospel and by living out the faith.
Secondly, Catholic education is also known for its academic excellence. The hallmark of Catholic education is directed to the development of the whole person – mind, body and soul.
The third important aspect of Catholic education is service. It is fundamental to Catholic education and the core of Catholic discipleship. Service is intended to help people not only be witnesses to Catholic social teaching, but also active participants through social learning. We help and love one another, because we love God first.
The Catholic school is a family, not a building or an institution. As a family striving to be holy, the principal, teachers, staff as well as the students all work together to bring the joy of being a child of God to this world.
As we mark Catholic Schools Week in our parish, we, as a family of faith, offer our admiration and gratitude to our principal Mrs. Emily Carlson, our assistant principal Mrs. Patti Collins and the many outstanding teachers and staff of our parish school. They deserve our thanks for their commitment, and for the many sacrifices they make to teach and form the young people of our parish.
I encourage you to give thanks for Catholic education and pray for its ongoing success. I ask you to support the work of the Office of Catholic Schools in Chicago and all that it does on behalf of our Church, our young people and our families to promote the positive contribution of Catholic schools to the country at large. I also encourage everyone to speak out positively on behalf Catholic education, and share the good news that Catholic schools are good for everyone.