On Sunday, January 26th, Cathedral has begun to observe Catholic Schools Week, a national celebration of Catholic education in the United States. According to Dons Chaplain, Father Brian Kelly, “This is a time for recognizing the numbers of schools and dedicated teachers and administrators who have both formed and informed countless generations of Americans of becoming good citizens and responsible Catholics.”
According to the National Catholic Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding body of National Catholic Schools Week, the purpose of the week-long commemoration is to recognize the value of a Catholic education “and its importance to and impact on young people, as well as its contributions to our church and communities across the country.”
For students who are not Catholic, Cathedral’s mission statement explains that, “Catholic Schools Week is another way of inviting them to embrace as much of our mission as they want,” said Father Kelly.
Traditionally, Catholic schools hold special events during Catholic Schools Week. Assistant Principal Ms. Margaret Mauro and a team of Campus Ministry teachers have organized this year’s CCHS events: sidewalk chalk art and crosses displayed throughout campus created by the Art Department, intramural sports competitions, and a musical performance by the Pep Band. In addition, Freshman, Sophomore and Junior LIGHT Service Groups are scheduled throughout the week, as well as a special luncheon for Campus Ministry students “because they assist us in the whole spiritual dimension of our faith formation – from the Christian service, to the retreat, to the liturgy, to the music program,” said Father Kelly.
On Tuesday, the St. Thomas Aquinas Liturgy will be celebrated at Cathedral and at Catholic schools across the country. As the patron saint of universities, Catholic schools, and students, St. Thomas Aquinas is chosen as an example of Catholic virtues personified, making this Mass especially meaningful.
The theme established by the NCEF for Catholic Schools Week 2014, which celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year, is Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service. “I think this diversification – faith, knowledge and service – shows what Cathedral is all about – to try to form all of these aspects of who we are as human beings,” said Father Kelly.
Cathedral students are not unaccustomed to the values represented by the Faith, Knowledge and Service theme. The normal Don life embodies these very values, with a strong emphasis on service – our students are accustomed to participating in a variety of Christian service programs throughout the year. Father Kelly said, “We’re in the third year of our LIGHT groups – I don’t think there is ever a ‘normal’ day where everyone is on campus, all in school at the same time.”
Mrs. Sandy Blackstone-Gardner, Director of Liturgies, said, “Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that we are a Catholic school and that we’re called to be a part of the community and service – so often we forget that those things are important.”
Father Kelly believes one of the most important benefits for students of National Catholic Schools week is that students genuinely appreciate the opportunity “to express their faith, to open themselves up to it and be challenged by it. I feel in my own classroom, through our prayer services,that [students] appreciate Cathedral Catholic. I think they understand that’s the uniqueness of CCHS for those of us who are coming from a faith-based understanding. I think they are happy about that.”
