Catholic Schools Week to showcase faith, community across 17 schools
Students at Holy Name School in Fall River. Provided By Catholic Schools Alliance
Originally published on www.heraldnews.com
Catholic Schools Week returns for its 51st year, with the theme “Catholic Schools United in Faith and Community” expected to take center stage across the Diocese of Fall River’s 17 schools.
The annual celebration, which runs Jan. 25-31, is expected to include open houses, Masses, tours and other events designed to showcase the unique offerings of Catholic education, according to a community announcement.
Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It typically takes place during the last week of January and is marked by various activities and events in Catholic schools across the country.
One of the goals of Catholic Schools Week is to highlight what makes Catholic schools different from public, charter or other private schools. Pope Leo XIV, in a recent Apostolic Letter, emphasized that Catholic schools are environments where faith, culture and life intertwine.
“While other school systems can only offer academics and skills, it is the goal of Catholic schools to ‘Educate for Eternity’ by opening the minds, transforming the hearts, and igniting the souls of students in order to cultivate each person’s desire to become the person God created them to be,” the announcement stated.
Daniel Roy, superintendent of Diocese of Fall River Catholic Schools, said each of the diocese’s elementary schools has launched a video showcasing how they embrace children as created in the image and likeness of God. The videos, which feature interviews with parents, students, teachers, principals and pastors, are available at RediscoverCatholicSchools.org.
Affordability is a common concern for families considering Catholic education. Christina Duggan, vice president of operations for the Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, said families with children in kindergarten through eighth grade are encouraged to apply for scholarships through the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education.
For the current school year, nearly 1,000 students have received needs-based awards ranging from $250 to $2,750 per student, which can cover up to 50% of tuition, depending on the school. FACE scholarships can result in monthly tuition payments of $300 or less. Applications must be completed by March 31, 2026 for the best chance of receiving an award.
Marian Desrosiers, director of Catholic identity and mission, emphasized the importance of faith in Catholic education.
“Our faith tells us that that each student is made in the image and likeness of God, and we are just so blessed to bring students, teachers, staff and families together on the holy ground of each Catholic school classroom, hallway or gymnasium,” Desrosiers said. “And in doing this, every day and throughout each day, they will begin to learn the necessity of prayer.”
Derrick Borges, a parent of a student at Holy Name School in Fall River, said the school’s environment helps children become the people God created them to be.
“From the morning prayer to those little moments with their prayer partners, to just recess moments, showing good sportsmanship and humility and just how to be a good person and live in God’s eyes,” Borges said.
For more details about Catholic school open houses during Catholic Schools Week, visit www.catholicschoolsalliance.org/2026-open-houses.
To view all 14 videos, visit www.rediscovercatholicschools.org/educating-for-eternity.
This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.