Catholic Schools Week will be observed in our Diocese from Sunday, Jan. 30, until Saturday, Feb. 5, with the theme “Catholic Schools: Faith, Excellence, Service.” During the week, a variety of special events including Masses and prayer services are scheduled in our schools. Check out the Catholic school your parish supports for information about its celebration of Catholic Schools Week. You may be invited to visit and participate in that school’s observance of this special week.
In our Diocese, all of our parishes sponsor a school, with responsibilities that run the gamut from financial, recruitment, clergy involvement and administration. This model shares the ownership of the school with each parish whether or not a school building may be located on its campus. It recognizes that a Catholic school is the principal education ministry of our Church for which each parish in the Diocese is responsible.
Catholic Schools Week highlights the mission of faith and the educational excellence of each school. The academic program is rigorous and has proven results in terms of graduation rates and grade levels of language arts and mathematics that are unmatched by public schools. “Excellence” in academics is the norm. Additionally, a Catholic school makes a difference in the wholesome development of each student. His or her spiritual and physical lives are addressed by the Catholic philosophy of education that drives each school. An education of the whole student, mind, body and spirit.
A Catholic school is value-based; morals are taught and held up to the students for imitation. Religion is taught, and its tenets are proposed for best living. Formation in faith is a goal. A school evangelizes its students, their families and the faculty. Public prayer takes place. God is mentioned, invoked; a Catholic environment surrounds each school. With Christian concern, the school reaches out to the community outside the door of the school, even into the world. The staffing is composed of committed educators in the classrooms and in administration. As our media campaign says: a Catholic education is the gift of a lifetime.
I can attest to that truth from my own experience as a student in Catholic grammar, high school and college and from my pastoral visits to our schools. During the recent pandemic, our schools were open for in-person classroom education. All was handled with expertise and concern by teachers and administrators so that the students did not lose direct classroom time. Zoom was available for those who were unable to be in the classrooms. Face to face, classroom education went on in the Catholic school.
I recognize the sacrifice that many parents make in order to keep their child in a Catholic School. That sacrifice is replicated by the Diocese; we spend a lot of time raising funds to support the schools. In addition, every school is involved in fundraising. All of these efforts build community around a school and create a family environment.
Faith, Excellence, Service are the hallmarks of a Catholic school. Its product is a well-rounded student who is prepared for life by a Catholic education. Your support is needed through the South Jersey Scholarship Fund. The monies raised by that organization are distributed to principals for families who are challenged by tuition costs. I ask you to consider a contribution. Visit https://bit.ly/SJScholarshipFund.
Whatever you can do to get the message out in your neighborhood or to your neighbors or relatives about our schools would be helpful. May our Catholic School students continue to grow in knowledge, faith and service. I salute our pastors, priests, religious, teachers, administrators and parents for their labors on behalf of our schools, which are centers of Faith, Excellence and Service.
Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, D.D.
Bishop of Camden