Celebrating Catholic Schools

Each year at the end of January Catholic parishes around the country celebrate ‘Catholic Schools Week.’ We do this for several reasons:

♦ To thank all our parishioners for their prayerful and financial support of this important ministry in our parish.

♦ To promote the value of Catholic Schools to those who may not be familiar with this parish ministry that helps parents pass on the faith to their children.

♦ To help the school children realize the uniqueness of their Catholic education they are privileged to be receiving in a country that allows religious freedom.

Our own St. Clare School does a tremendous job of keeping a Catholic identity in its mission in the way it teaches the core Catholic teachings to the children. They also get involved in a wide variety of charity and justice outreach activities. Next Sunday afternoon, January 30, our school hosts an Open House from 1:30-3:00 p.m. for parents and students to see and learn why St. Clare School is so special. Please note sign-ups for the Open House are required. You may sign up by going to the link HERE

We are also grateful to have two Catholic High Schools in our diocese relatively close to our parish that I encourage our parents to also consider for continuing their children’s faith formation. Althoff Catholic High School is in Belleville and Mater Dei is in Breese, both within a half hour drive. I know that some of our parents also choose excellent Catholic high schools in St. Louis or Maryville.

Of course, our parish also supports our parents who choose our PSR program on Sunday mornings or homeschooling. But for one week a year we make an extra effort of promoting our Catholic School for parents to consider as an excellent way to help them teach the faith to their children.

I want to personally thank all our parishioners who support our St. Clare School through your financial support in your weekly tithe.

God’s Peace be with you,
Fr. Jim Deiters