Catholic Schools Week 2026
Celebrate Catholic Education
January 25 – 31, 2026
Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. This week aims to highlight the value, mission, and contributions of Catholic education to students, families, parishes, and the nation. This year’s national theme is “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community”, focusing on holiness, service, and the strong community ties that define Catholic education.
Catholic schools have an irreplaceable role in the Church’s evangelizing mission. Building on the central goal of Catholic schools to form saints, Catholic schools teach and embrace the whole person, body, mind, and spirit. The fact that all members of a Catholic school community share the Christian vision that Christ is the foundation of Catholic education unites the school as a faith-filled community.
While faith is the binding element in Catholic schools, the Church reiterates that parents are the first teachers of their children. Guided by this tenet, Catholic school communities extend beyond the walls of school buildings to encompass the family as an integral part of the school community. Together, teachers, administrators, staff, students, and parents fuel the light of faith by integrating culture with faith and faith with living.
The CSW logo symbolizes the united community of Catholic schools – not a building or an institution, but people of faith serving God and others. No Catholic school can fulfill its educational role alone. As a community, Catholic schools are nourished and stimulated by the centrality of the word of Christ expressed through knowledge, service, scripture, and sacramental tradition.
Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community is a theme on which to build a spirit of the gospel to benefit the human family.
Our Parish and School Events
Pack The Pews
January 25, 11:00 a.m. Mass
Our school teachers, staff, students, and families will be packing the pews on Sunday, January 25, at the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Students, wear your school uniform to receive a jeans day pass! Parishioners, visit with teachers and staff at the table in the Gathering Space to learn more about our school!
Pancake Breakfast
January 25 after both Sunday Masses
Our Knights of Columbus will host a pancake breakfast in the Hall on Sunday January 25 after both Sunday Masses to kick off Catholic Schools Week. Proceeds from the breakfast will be donated to Corpus Christi Catholic School, to be used for the eighth grade class trip. The Knights will match donations/tips up to $500. Thank you for your support.
Cost:
$9 Adult
$5 Youth
$25 Family
Open House
Thursday, February 5
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Come see Catholic education in action! Visit Corpus Christi on Thursday, February 5. Tour the school, speak with current students and staff, and see how we infuse learning with faith, preparing students for this life and the next. Discover the Corpus Christi difference: welcoming all children, enriching their knowledge, nurturing their faith, and building their character in a Catholic Christian environment.
Learn more and register in advance here.
A Letter From Bishop Walkowiak On Catholic Schools Week 2026
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we approach Catholic Schools Week, January 25 – January 31, we have much to celebrate and much for which to be grateful. The Catholic schools in our diocese, from our elementary schools to post-secondary institutions such as Aquinas College and Harmel Academy of the Trades, are working hand-in-hand with the Church to fulfill our primary mission: evangelization.
Our Catholic schools are foundational for the Church of tomorrow. By providing a transformative education that nurtures the whole person—body, mind, and soul—we are actively ensuring the vitality and spiritual health of the Catholic Church in West Michigan.
Catholic schools bring young people into a daily encounter with our Lord, preparing them to seek and fulfill God’s plan for their lives. Through prayer, adoration, and the celebration of the sacraments, students have multiple opportunities to listen for God’s voice and discern how He is working in their life. This personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the key to living out our baptismal call to love God and neighbor and to become ambassadors for Christ.
You, the generous and dedicated members of our parishes, are integral in this endeavor. Thank you for the ways you support this educational ministry through your prayer, financial support, and faithful advocacy.
Please pray for and spread the word about Catholic schools within your community during this upcoming week and throughout the year.
Sincerely yours in Christ
Most Reverend David J. Walkowiak
Bishop of Grand Rapids
