"Catholic Schools Celebrate Service"

As students head back to classrooms in Catholic schools and parish religious education programs around the country, they are being invited to "Celebrate Service" by volunteering in the community or parish. The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2009, “Catholic Schools Celebrate Service,” is setting the tone for the entire year, with posters, prayer services and rallies helping to introduce the theme.

Catholicism has a long and rich tradition of direct service to those in need, as well as social justice efforts to end social ills like racism and gender inequality. The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy focus on things that each individual believer can do to help others, like feeding the hungry and instructing the ignorant. The Seven Principles of Catholic Social Teaching focus on solving long-term, systemic problems in society, like homelessness, poverty and violence.

NCEA has resources to help every Catholic school “celebrate service.” Press releases, prayer services, bookmarks, marketing kits, and catalog items can be found on our Catholic Schools Week Web page: /news/CatholicSchoolsWeek.asp

Many blessings as you begin the adventure of a new school year!