Celebrations were in full swing last week at Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Newark as students, faculty, families, and parish communities participated in the annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week.
Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs throughout the week. The 2023 theme for National Catholic Schools Week is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.”
Schools recognized the achievements of students, the dedication of faculty, and the importance of service to the community through various festivities, including Mass and prayer services, school-wide pep rallies, competitions, community service events and fundraisers, and all sorts of projects and fun activities for students.
Students at the Academy of the Holy Angels collected over 400 pairs of shoes for the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas during Catholic Schools Week.Students at the Academy of the Most Blessed celebrated students by asking them to reflect on how they learn, serve, lead, and succeed in their school and parish communities.Corpus Christi School took a trip to visit retired firefighters during Catholic Schools Week, demonstrating reverence and thankfulness to the first responders in their community.Students and families at Holy Trinity School met after school to build over 700 sandwiches that were donated to St. Joseph’s Church in Elizabeth. In addition, Holy Trinity kindergarten students visited the Westfield Food Pantry every morning during Catholic Schools Week to learn about community service and help sort nonperishables.Students at Our Lady of the Lake School participated in a soup can collection during Catholic Schools Week to celebrate their commitment to the community.Students at Sacred Heart in Lyndhurst.Students at St. John’s Academy met with the pastor, Msgr. Peter Smutelovic, and prayed the rosary.Students at St. Elizabeth School in Wyckoff kicked off Catholic Schools Week with a spiritual art project to demonstrate their love for their school and parish community.Students at St. Joseph School in Oradell celebrated the end of Catholic Schools Week to celebrate Mass as a whole school community.Saint Francis Academy in Union City enjoyed a visit from Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. today during National Catholic Schools Week. Cardinal Tobin celebrated Mass with students, faculty, and staff, and later enjoyed a program of music and songs presented by the students.
