CHARLOTTE — Schools across the Diocese of Charlotte recently joined in celebrating National Catholic Schools – with each day featuring a special theme, enlivening students and offering opportunities to live out their faith and engage with their communities.
Several parishes kicked off celebrations with special Masses for students and the school community, then embarked on a week filled with service, prayer, fellowship and a lot of fun.
Organized by the National Catholic Education Association and marking its 50th year of celebrating Catholic education, the week ran from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3 and aims to showcase all that Catholic schools have to offer, build community and encourage charitable outreach.
“Catholic Schools truly are ‘united in faith and community,’” said Superintendent Greg Monroe, echoing the theme for this year’s celebration. “Not only do they provide a first-class education grounded in faith, they also give students a deep appreciation for the needs of their community – and instill the Christian virtues of compassion, service and charity to help meet those needs.”
Demand for Catholic education has surged in the growing diocese, where half of the 20 schools are at or near capacity, with a record enrollment of 8,100 students this year, and a flood of applications for the 2024-25 school year. Read more about schools growth.
The week’s festivities reinforce the positive impact Catholic schools have in their local communities by engaging in community service, celebrating vocations, honoring our nation and other spirit-building activities for students, families and parishioners.
On Jan. 29, St. Patrick School kindergartners and their fifth-grade prayer partners walked two blocks from school to deliver 50 casserole meals to Dilworth Soup Kitchen in Charlotte.
Sacred Heart School in Salisbury celebrated their community, beginning with a visit from Mayor Karen Alexander, who spoke to students about the importance of sharing and caring for their community. Students also launched service projects and showed school spirit by dressing as a favorite movie, television or book character.
In Winston-Salem, St. Leo the Great School celebrated its community with all grades joining together in a school-wide service project, creating special goodie bags for patients and staff of Brenner’s Children’s Hospital Oncology Floor.
“Catholic Schools Week took on special meaning for us this year,” said St. Leo Assistant Principal Callie Moore. “We always use this time to reinforce in our students the importance of giving back, and this year we chose to honor Brenner’s Children’s Hospital because of all they did for Finley Price – a beloved Kindergartner here who passed away from cancer in November. We wanted to thank the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in her care.”
— Catholic News Herald. Photos by Troy Hull and provided
St. Mark Church opened the week with a school Mass. The music was by the school choir, and students from St. Mark Catholic School served as ushers, lectors and altar servers.
St. Mark Church opened the week with a school Mass. The music was by the school choir, and students from St. Mark Catholic School served as ushers, lectors and altar servers.
St. Mark Church opened the week with a school Mass. The music was by the school choir, and students from St. Mark Catholic School served as ushers, lectors and altar servers.
St. Mark Church opened the week with a school Mass. The music was by the school choir, and students from St. Mark Catholic School served as ushers, lectors and altar servers.
Our Lady of the Assumption School kicked off Catholic Schools Week by providing music for the 11 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Church.
The school’s band accompanied the parish’s choir and provide music throughout the liturgy.
The school’s band accompanied the parish’s choir and provide music throughout the liturgy.
The school’s band accompanied the parish’s choir and provide music throughout the liturgy.
Afterwards, Principle Tyler Kulp invited parents to visit the school’s information table for enrollment information.
Catholic Schools Week starts with the ICS “Faith in Education” billboard now up on U.S. 64 in Hendersonville. It’s located on the left as you drive from the school toward Blue Ridge Mall.
Superintendent Dr. Greg Monroe visited Immaculata Catholic School on Tuesday.
Our Lady of Grace School kicked off the celebration week with Mass as one family growing in faith.
Our Lady of Grace School kicked off the celebration week with Mass as one family growing in faith.
The students took the lead in engaging in acts of service. Following the Mass service, parishioners gathered for a Donut Social.
The students took the lead in engaging in acts of service. Following the Mass service, parishioners gathered for a Donut Social.
Dr. Gregory Monroe, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, greets students at St. Mark School in Huntersville for the start of Catholic Schools Week.
Dr. Gregory Monroe, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, greets students at St. Mark School in Huntersville for the start of Catholic Schools Week.
Dr. Gregory Monroe, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, greets students at St. Mark School in Huntersville for the start of Catholic Schools Week.
Bishop McGuinness High School started Catholic Schools Week with Wired Café Coffee Bus.
Students at Bishop McGuinness High School participated in a school-wide day of service Monday, which included packing trail mix for organizations that serve the hungry
Bishop McGuinness students made blankets for those in need.
In addition to trail mix, Bishop McGuinness students packed toiletry bags.
Bishop McGuinness students also painted signs with messages of hope that were displayed on campus and given to local community organizations.
Bishop McGuinness students also wrote cards to service members.
Sophomores at Bishop McGuinness helped clean up Ivey Redmond Park
Father Christopher Brock celebrated an all-school Mass at Bishop McGuinness on Tuesday.
Deacon Mark Mejias (left) and altar servers assisted Father Brock at the Mass.
Monday at Holy Trinity Middle School, they celebrated the community. Families donated enough goodies to pack over 2,500 bag of birthday treats, toiletries and snacks for our charitable partners, Birthday Blessings, The Boys and Girls Club and Roof Above.
It was a team effort of our supportive PTO volunteers, families, students and teachers. They also played bingo — a great Catholic tradition!
Immaculate Heart of Mary School honored the Nation on Monday. Students honored our Veterans at lunch, handed out popsicles and prayed for all those who have served or are currently serving.
Immaculate Heart of Mary School honored the Nation on Monday. Students honored our Veterans at lunch, handed out popsicles and prayed for all those who have served or are currently serving.
On Tuesday, Immaculate Heart of Mary students put together and delivered baskets to HPPD, HPFD, High Point Library, USPS, Pennybyrn Retirement Community, Atrium Hospital, and IHM priests and staff members.
On Tuesday, Immaculate Heart of Mary students put together and delivered baskets to HPPD, HPFD, High Point Library, USPS, Pennybyrn Retirement Community, Atrium Hospital, and IHM priests and staff members.
On Tuesday, Immaculate Heart of Mary students put together and delivered baskets to HPPD, HPFD, High Point Library, USPS, Pennybyrn Retirement Community, Atrium Hospital, and IHM priests and staff members.
On Tuesday, Immaculate Heart of Mary students put together and delivered baskets to HPPD, HPFD, High Point Library, USPS, Pennybyrn Retirement Community, Atrium Hospital, and IHM priests and staff members.
On Tuesday, Immaculate Heart of Mary students put together and delivered baskets to HPPD, HPFD, High Point Library, USPS, Pennybyrn Retirement Community, Atrium Hospital, and IHM priests and staff members.
Members of Immaculata Catholic School student council presented a check for $668.23 to Andrew James, left, and Monica Garren from Blue Ridge Humane Society.
Students raised money last school year and collected pet food and supplies this year. Meanwhile, Oliver, a Pomeranian rescue, visited with students.
St. Michael School held an open house for Catholic Schools Week.
Sacred Heart School celebrated community for CSW. Mayor Karen Alexander visited the Morning Assembly.
Students started service projects and showed school spirit by dressing as our favorite movie, television or book character.
Students started service projects and showed school spirit by dressing as our favorite movie, television or book character.
On Tuesday, Sacred Heart celebrated students with wacky-tacky day.
On Tuesday, Sacred Heart celebrated students with wacky-tacky day.
At St. Patrick School, service learning is an extension of our faith. Monday’s Catholic Schools Week theme was community.
Fifth-graders helped their prayer partner kindergarteners prepare healthy, trail mix bags that will be sold for $1 to benefit Catholic Charities.
5A then helped walk their prayer partners to Dilworth Soup Kitchen to deliver 50 casseroles for our neighbors in need.
St. Leo School kicked Catholic Schools Week 2024 on Sunday by celebrating its parishes.
St. Leo School kicked Catholic Schools Week 2024 on Sunday by celebrating its parishes.
St. Leo preschoolers dressed up as their favorite superheroes on Tuesday.
St. Leo students created goodie bags for patients on the oncology floor of Brenner Children's Hospital.
St. Leo students created goodie bags for patients on the oncology floor of Brenner Children's Hospital.
Service projects at Our Lady of Mercy included decorating bags for Meals on Wheels.
Service projects at Our Lady of Mercy included decorating bags for Meals on Wheels.
Our Lady of Mercy students also volunteered in the school library.
For community service day, students at Canongate Catholic High School donated items to Open Arms Pregnancy Center in Hendersonville, including diapers, wipes and handmade baby quilts.
The quilts were fashioned by students last spring in Mrs. Dellinger's Fiber Arts class.
Celebrity look-alikes, interviews, t-shirt cannons, live feeds, special effects- and basketball too for Christ the King School’s second annual ESPN night!
Celebrity look-alikes, interviews, t-shirt cannons, live feeds, special effects- and basketball too for Christ the King School’s second annual ESPN night!
Catholic schools office shows appreciation for its school bus drivers during Catholic Schools Week with breakfast.
Catholic schools office shows appreciation for its school bus drivers during Catholic Schools Week with breakfast.
Catholic schools office shows appreciation for its school bus drivers during Catholic Schools Week with breakfast.
Catholic schools office shows appreciation for its school bus drivers during Catholic Schools Week with breakfast.
St. Matthew students celebrate Catholic Schools Week with a dress down day in sports jerseys.
St. Matthew students celebrate Catholic Schools Week with a dress down day in sports jerseys.
St. Matthew students celebrate Catholic Schools Week with a dress down day in sports jerseys.
CHARLOTTE — Schools across the Diocese of Charlotte recently joined in celebrating National Catholic Schools – with each day featuring a special theme, enlivening students and offering opportunities to live out their faith and engage with their communities.
