The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will join in the national observation of Catholic Schools Week from January 31 to February 6, 2010. Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of the values-centered, faith-driven education that students receive in Catholic elementary, secondary and special education schools. The national theme for Catholic Schools Week 2010 is "Catholic Schools-Dividends for Life."

"The theme for this year's Catholic Schools Week, 'Dividends for Life,' reminds us all that there is no better investment than the education of a child," said Most Reverend Joseph P. McFadden, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia. "Throughout Catholic Schools Week, our schools will also demonstrate the value of a Catholic education through service projects, academic competitions and expressions of gratitude for those who make their Catholic education possible."

In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia there are:
· 177 parish and regional elementary schools
· 20 Archdiocesan high schools
· 4 schools of special education
· Parish elementary school enrollment is 54,407
· High school enrollment is 17,903
· Schools of Special Education enrollment is 230
· Catholic schools save taxpayers $800 million annually in the five counties of the Archdiocese

Hallmark Events for Catholic Schools Week

Monday, February 1, 2010 at 10 a.m.
Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate a Mass during Catholic Schools Week for over 1,000 high school teachers on Monday, February 1, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 10 a.m.
Most Reverend Joseph P. McFadden, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, will be the celebrant and homilist of a Catholic Schools Week Mass recognizing 1,400 senior student athletes who, through athletics, not only improve their physical fitness, but also embody Gospel values in their sportsmanship. The Mass will take place at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 10 a.m.
Holy Innocents Area Catholic School - 1312 E. Bristol St., Philadelphia (215-743-5909)
10:00 a.m. - Bishop Joseph P. McFadden will distribute more than 60 netbooks, which are part of the new netbook technology initiative at Holy Innocents and other Archdiocesan Schools. As part of the program, each seventh and eighth student will receive a netbook that will be used throughout the school day. Also in attendance at the unveiling will be Ms. Mary E. Rochford, Superintendent of Schools and Ms. Nancy Caramanico, Director of Technology K-12.

Throughout Catholic Schools Week, students, parents and teachers across the five-county Archdiocese will celebrate with a variety of special religious, social and recreational activities.

Following is a list of some of the activities planned:

Sunday, January 31, 2010
St. Martin of Tours School - One Riverstone Circle, New Hope, Bucks County (215-785-0973)
11 a.m. -- St. Martin of Tours will hold a Mass and pancake breakfast to honor local medical and emergency workers. Mass begins at 11 a.m. followed by breakfast in the school's cafeteria, which will be decorated by the students. Each of the guests will be given a school mug filled with treats as an expression of gratitude for the work they do to protect the school's community.

Monday, February 1, 2010
St. Francis de Sales School - 39 New Road, Aston, Delaware County (610-459-0799)
Throughout the day, students from Kindergarten through eighth grade will express their appreciation for local service men and women by collecting care package items. In addition, the names of these brave service men and women will be displayed on entrance of the school to honor their dedication to our country.

Corpus Christi Parish School- 920 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale, Montgomery County (215-368-0582)
Corpus Christi students will dedicate their day to service when they collect new T-shirts, white athletic socks and work pants for Brother House in Norristown, which serves the homeless.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010
St. Kevin Parish School - 200 W. Sproul Road, Springfield, Delaware County (610-544-4455)
9:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. - All St. Kevin Parish School students will spend the morning preparing Valentine's Day gift bags of love for the residents of Fair Acres Long-Term Care Facility in Delaware County. Each gift bag will be filled with cards from the students and distributed to Fair Acres residents on Valentine's Day.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Holy Innocents Area Catholic School - 1312 E. Bristol St., Philadelphia (215-743-5909)
10:00 a.m. - Bishop Joseph P. McFadden will distribute more than 60 netbooks, which are part of the new netbook technology initiative at Holy Innocents and other Archdiocesan Schools. As part of the program, each seventh and eighth student will receive a netbook that will be used throughout the school day. Also in attendance at the unveiling will be Ms. Mary E. Rochford, Superintendent of Schools and Ms. Nancy Caramanico, Director of Technology K-12.

St. Mary Magdalen Parish School - 2430 N. Providence Rd, Media, Delaware County (215-424-5045)
Throughout the day, students will write letters and make cards for retired area priests in celebration of The Year of the Priest, an Archdiocesan observance from June 19, 2009 through June 19, 2010.

St. Athanasius-Immaculate Conception School - 7105 Limekiln Pike, Philadelphia (215-424-5045)
10:45 a.m. - Students will celebrate Sister Arleen McNicholas, S.S.J. and Sister Joanne Uetz, S.S.J. for their 50 years of service to education and the Catholic church with a special Mass. In addition, the school community will honor Mrs. Susan O'Brien's 25 years of service to the school.

St. Francis Cabrini Parish School - 10 Goble Court, Fairless Hills, Bucks County (215-946-6334)
11:00 a.m. - Eighth grade students will switch places with teachers throughout the school as part of a "switcheroo" day. More than 20 students and teachers will take part in the event.

Thursday, February 4, 2010
Archbishop Wood High School - 655 York Road, Warminster, Bucks County (215-672-5050)
8:00 a.m. - Students will celebrate a liturgy to commemorate the Year of the Priest, a yearlong observance. All priests and seminarians who are graduates of Archbishop Wood are invited to concelebrate.

St. Mark Parish School - 1024 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Bucks County (215-785-0973)
6:30 p.m.-St. Mark Parish School will host an open house for the community. The theme for this year's open house is "Avenue of the Arts." As part of the theme, students' artwork will be on display throughout the school and the school band will play. Students will also put on a wax museum performance, where each of the students will dress to look like a wax replica of a musician from a selected era.

St. Laurence Parish School - 8245 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, Delaware County (610-789-2670)
7:00 p.m.-St. Laurence will celebrate 90 years of providing quality Catholic education with a commemorative birthday party. As part of the celebration, the Overbrook String Band and the school's choir will entertain parents, students, faculty and staff with performances throughout the evening. Students will also be invited to participate in a scavenger hunt based on the school's 90 years of history.

Bishop McDevitt High School - 125 Royal Avenue, Wyncote, Montgomery County (215-887-5575)
11:00 a.m.- Bishop McDevitt High School will host the Fifth Annual Papal Colloquium, entitled The Dignity of a Person. The keynote speaker for the event will be Immaculée Ilibagiza, one of the world's most renowned speakers on the topics of peace, faith, and forgiveness. Immaculée will tell the amazing story of her horrific ordeal during the 1994 Rwanda genocide campaign, and how her experiences led her to a new life of forgiveness and a profound relationship with God.

Friday, February 5, 2010
Holy Trinity Parish School -Stockham & Osborne Avenues, Morrisville, Bucks County (215-295-6900)
6:30 p.m.-Holy Trinity Parish School will celebrate the diversity of its school community through an assembly highlighting school families from different countries. Ten families will share clothing, art and stories from their native country. The students will also use Google Earth to "zoom in" and see the different places their classmates lived. Fifth and sixth graders will begin the assembly with a prayer for peace and acceptance that is based on Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. At the conclusion of the assembly, the eighth grade will perform a choral recitation of Dr. King's speech.

Fore more information about Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia visit www.catholicschools-phl.org.

Contact
Meredith Wilson
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747