Catholic Schools Week 2018 will be celebrated Jan. 28 to Feb. 3 and will focus on the theme “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.”

Sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association, Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Schools typically observe the 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 the Church, local communities and the nation.

“Catholic Schools Week is a time to truly celebrate what makes us unique,” said Carrie Wilson, head of School at The Bishop John A. Marshall School in Morrisville. “There is so much joy in our schools, and we take the time during Catholic Schools Week to share that joy with each other and with the community. We are the best-kept secret in education, and we deliberately take time that week to shout it from the rooftops!”

Catholic schools in Vermont will celebrate Catholic Schools Week with prayer, service projects, outdoor fun, family activities, art exhibits, sports events, volunteer appreciation and dress-down days.

A special event for all schools will be a Mass celebrated by Burlington Bishop Christopher Coyne on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral with students from Catholic schools throughout the Diocese who will participate in different roles in the Mass including serving and singing.

Students from both Christ the King School and Mount St. Joseph Academy in Rutland will travel to the Mass to celebrate with other Vermont Catholic school students. “The two schools will also have a Mass at Christ the King Church celebrating the rich history of Catholic schools in Rutland and all that it means to be a Catholic community,” said Sarah Fortier, principal of both schools.

Other Catholic Schools Weeks activities include letter writing to seminarians, recitation of the rosary, luncheons and open houses.