Catholic school students, faculty, staff, and families will be observing Celebrate Catholic Schools Week from January 29 to February 4. The theme this year is Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service. It’s an appropriate tie-in that Pope Francis’s prayer intention for January is educators. He says, “Educators are witnesses who impart not only their mental knowledge, but also their convictions, their commitment to life.”
Through this celebration, Catholic schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our Church, communities, nation, and world. The National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) offers many free event resources for schools and parishes, including daily themes, “A Dozen Reasons to Choose Catholic Schools” poster, and Catholic Schools data snaps to promote Catholic education in your community. All schools are encouraged to share their Catholic Schools Week events on the NCEA Facebook page (#CSW2023) and on Twitter (@NCEATALK).
Saint Thomas Aquinas is the patron of Catholic schools and universities, publishers, scholars, and students. This thirteenth-century philosopher and Doctor of the Church is known for his influence on Western thought, including ethics, natural law, and political theory. Saint Thomas’ writings still influence those who study theology and canon law. His feast day is January 28. We invite you to pray this prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas:
Grant me, O Lord my God,
a mind to know you,
a heart to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
conduct pleasing to you,
faithful perseverance in waiting for you,
and a hope of finally embracing you.
Amen.
Image credit: © NCEA
