In 1974, Catholic Schools Week was established as the annual celebration of American Catholic education.
Tag: Catholic schools
Historic appointment for St. Ambrose Academy
MADISON — St. Ambrose Academy (SAA) is thrilled to welcome Fr. Greg Ihm as our first chaplain.
Evangelization in Catholic schools

One of the best gifts I have received in my life was an education in Catholic schools.
I was fortunate to attend Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and Aquinas High School, both in La Crosse, Wis.
Those 12 years of Catholic education made a great impact on my life. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was being evangelized.
Strive to make all schools welcoming to the disabled
To the editor:
I enjoyed reading your article on “A dozen reasons to choose Catholic schools”. The list was spot on, except for number 12, “We provide a safe and welcoming environment for all.”
Many Catholic schools are unable to enroll children with disabilities. I find this very disconcerting, as our faith is all about welcoming and helping the least of us.
Teaching children to know, love, and serve God
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As another school year begins and we lament the rapid passage of summer, I ponder the gift and blessing of our children and young people — the greatest treasure of the Church and the world.
Our Diocese pours significant resources into the formation of our children and youth, through our schools, religious education programs, and youth ministry.
And rightfully so. We want each child to know, love, and serve God. We want each young person to be a zealous disciple of the Lord Jesus. We want each person to grow up, flourishing in the abundant life of the Gospel, becoming the saint that God has called them to be.
Advocate of Catholic Schools
I have always been a big advocate of Catholic schools. Every study shows that graduates of parochial schools practice the Faith, support the Church, contribute to the poor, have a keener sense of social justice, and are more successful in their vocations than the average population.
A learning environment imbued in faith and love, permeated by prayer, and strong in Christian values becomes a blessed, formative experience that impacts the whole person — soul, body, mind, and heart.
A dozen reasons to choose Catholic schools
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This time of year always brings me a feeling of excitement, because school is starting again.
Even though I haven’t attended school for years, I still remember my own 12 years as a student in Catholic elementary and high schools in La Crosse, Wis. Those were happy years for me in so many ways.
Likewise, I enjoyed participating as a parent with our own children when they attended Our Lady Queen of Peace Elementary School and Edgewood High School in Madison. I know that they, too, appreciated their time at those schools.
Catholic schools do a great job!
It’s that time of year when we celebrate graduations in schools around the country. This week’s Catholic Herald includes our annual Catholic school graduation section. We invite Catholic schools in the Diocese of Madison to send information about their graduation ceremonies.
Renew commitment to Catholic schools
My 12 years attending Catholic schools — eight in elementary school and four in high school — definitely helped shape the person I became in life.
I received an excellent academic education in the Catholic schools I attended, but I benefited from much more than that. My teachers — clergy, Religious, and lay — also taught me about my faith and how to live it out in daily life. I learned the importance of service to others and how to be a leader. And all of these things helped me succeed in life, not only professionally but as a person.
What is the main purpose of education?
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First in a series.
It’s that time of year again when the air starts to cool, leaves reveal their true colors, and children board buses back to school. All of us have experienced the end of summer vacation and the start of school.
Generation after generation, the cycle repeats. It is a rite of passage, part of the fabric of our modern society. It is so common that most of us take it for granted, rarely pausing to reflect on the purpose of school, or an education.
Purpose of education
The purpose of education and the means by which to achieve it have been the discussion of much national debate over the last decade.
Encourage early start on volunteering

Most children like the idea of helping others. Parents find this out when they ask their children to help pick up their toys or help set the table or clean up dishes after a meal.
We’ve encouraged our grandchildren to help when they visit our house. They seem happy to assist us, and I’m pleased to see they help when they visit other places.
Volunteering — like so many things — begins in the home. But it’s also important to teach kids about helping others outside of the home. As followers of Christ, we have an extra incentive in living out His commandment to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves.


