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Celebrate Catholic Schools!
What is National Catholic Schools Week?
National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2021 is January 31 – February 6. The theme for the National Catholic Schools Week 2021 is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” Schools typically observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.
‘Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed’:
Catholic Schools Week 2021
A message from Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M.Every generation has the obligation and responsibility to educate the next generation. That involves the teaching of subjects like math and science, language and literature, history and health, among others.
In public discourse, there is much discussion about the efficacy and success of public school systems throughout the United States. It is frequently the fodder for political debate, although politicians often seem to forget about it once the election is over. Citizens pay taxes to support our public schools with mixed results. Some public schools have excellent success rates, teaching well and graduating their students, while others seem incapable of digging themselves out of the hole of consistent disappointment and failure.Continue reading Bishop O'Connell's 2020 message for Catholic Schools Week.
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Greetings from new diocesan Catholic schools superintendent
Vincent de Paul Schmidt, Superintendent of Catholic Schools
I am so very happy to introduce myself. My name is Vincent de Paul Schmidt, and I am honored to have been named the superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Trenton by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.My wife, Dana, and our three sons are very happy to have moved to New Jersey. My family has heard there is much to do here, and once the state fully reopens after COVID-19, we will be excited to experience all the Garden State has to offer. From the boardwalks on the beach to farmers’ markets in our community, this seems to be a perfect place to live and raise our family.
Friends and colleagues have asked me many times over the past months, “What are you going to change in Trenton?” In reality, my job is not to change anything, but continue to build on the fantastic efforts of former superintendent JoAnn Tier and the team in the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools.
Over the last few months, I have come to realize that in the Diocese of Trenton, we have a wide variety of students – from Catholics and non-Catholics, to those of all ethnicities, special needs and varying economic status. All will continue to be embraced for the gifts they bring and the good works they will be challenged to bring forth daily.
Continue reading Vincent de Paul Schmidt's message...
Our Catholic schools need more champions
Rayanne Bennett, Associate Publisher, The Monitor
As Catholics around the nation are invited to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, much is said and written about why these schools are important, and the many positive ways that they impact their students, the Catholic community overall and even the society at large.
As it does every year at this time, The Monitor salutes Catholic schools and all that they accomplish in support of their unique mission to prepare students academically, while they pass on the faith to the next generation. This year is no different, and the special center section of this issue of The Monitor offers a collection of comprehensive and detailed articles, along with several compelling messages about the value of Catholic schools.