Posted February 1, 2022

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are observing National Catholic School Week this year (Jan. 30-Feb. 5) with a variety of events on the week’s theme, “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.”

Some of the events celebrating Christ-centered, faith-based education that students receive in the 119 elementary, 15 secondary and 3 special education schools in the archdiocese include:

Sunday, Jan. 30

The Dennis Kelly AOH, Division 1 in Havertown is running the “Hibernian Hunger Project Delco Catholic High School Challenge” in which the Ancient Order of Hibernians are working with all three archdiocesan high schools in Delaware County including Archbishop Carroll Cardinal O’Hara and Msgr. Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast.

The school collecting the most pounds of food by Easter will be presented with a championship belt for this year’s achievement. and that will be passed around each year to the winning school.

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Additionally, the Dennis Kelly AOH will present $100 to the classroom that collects the most money at each of the three schools. Updates for the contest will be posted to the “Friends of Dennis Kelly AOH Delco #1” Facebook page. The Dennis Kelly AOH is an Irish Catholic fraternal organization with a mission is to promote Irish and Irish American heritage through friendship, unity and Christian charity.

Monday, Jan. 31

The community at Father Judge High School in Northeast Philadelphia participated in a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Nelson Perez and Oblate priests serving the school. The archbishop also led a town hall discussion with students from Archbishop Ryan, Little Flower, St. Hubert and Father Judge High Schools — see full coverage in Local News.

Freshman and sophomore students at St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls in Philadelphia composed original prayers that were read over the school’s sound system between classes all day — read the prayers here.

Students, faculty and staff at Holy Rosary Regional Catholic School in Plymouth Meeting will hold the annual “Beep Out” Pep Rally in the school parking lot for community first responders who will be invited to parade through the parking lot in police patrol cars, fire trucks and ambulances.

A team of students at Archbishop John Carroll High School and St. Katherine School of Special Education (Upper School at Archbishop Carroll) will play a team of Archbishop Wood High School and Our Lady of Confidence School of Special Education (Upper School at Archbishop Wood) in an Interscholastic Unified Sports Bocce Match at Archbishop Carroll, Radnor. The two teams integrating special education students are currently the only Catholic unified bocce ball teams in the state of Pennsylvania.

Special Olympics Interscholastic Unified Sports is a fully inclusive co-ed, after-school high school sports program that joins students with and without intellectual disabilities.

Tuesday, Feb. 1

Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster will hold a faculty recognition liturgy in their school auditorium honoring the faculty’s dedication to Catholic education. Nancy Kurtz, interim superintendent of archdiocesan secondary schools, will join the students, faculty and staff for the liturgy.

Wednesday, Feb. 2

The Red, White and Blue Dress Down Day at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School in Philadelphia’s Roxborough section will include a service component in which students, faculty and staff have been encouraged, in addition to dressing patriotically, to donate an item to the school’s “Support the Troops” service project, which will consist of assembling care packages in Father Sullivan Hall to be sent to troops.

Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia will hold an installation ceremony to formally install John Curry Jr. as the school’s new principal. Nancy Kurtz, interim superintendent of archdiocesan secondary schools, will preside at the installation.

Friday, Feb. 4

SS. Simon and Jude Catholic School in West Chester will hold its Catholic Schools Week closing Mass and honor students who have modeled mercy, kindness and charity with their peers with Peacemaker Awards. Father Michael J. Gerlach, pastor of SS. Simon and Jude Parish, will be the celebrant of the Mass.