Later this month, the CNMI’s three Catholic schools, Mount Carmel School on Saipan, Sister Remedios Early Childhood Development Center on Saipan, and Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja on Rota, will join the rest of the nation in celebrating Catholic Schools Week (CSW) 2017.
This year’s CSW theme speaks to the holistic framework of Catholic education by proclaiming, “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service”. As the National Catholic Educational Association announced, “The theme encompasses several concepts that are at the heart of a Catholic education. First, schools are communities—small families in their own right, but also members of the larger community of home, church, city and nation. Faith, knowledge and service are three measures by which any Catholic school can and should be judged.”
For its part, Mount Carmel School has prepared a full week of events that are aligned with CSW themes for each day of the week. On Sunday, January 29, at 9:00 a. m., the focus will be on “Catholic Schools in our Parishes” as MCS students converge on Mount Carmel Cathedral to kick off CSW 2017 with a Eucharistic Celebration. On Monday, the focus shifts to “Catholic Schools in our Community” as MCS junior high and high school students engage in different activities that support community services. Elementary school students will make banners expressing their appreciation for the school’s many donors and supporters. Tuesday will be dedicated to “Catholic Schools in our Faculty and Staff”. On that day, MCS will hold an appreciation program for faculty and staff, in which the 2017 Teacher of the Year will be announced. On Wednesday, MCS will celebrate “Catholic Schools in our Vocations” with a Eucharistic Celebration, which will be followed by a vocations talk and other activities honoring vocations. MCS will shift its attention on Thursday to the rest of the country with “Catholic Schools in our Nation” as students honor the many ways that volunteer groups have contributed. Friday morning’s emphasis will be on “Catholic Schools in our Students” with MCS students participating in a road-side waving in the morning, followed by field activities and demonstrations. Friday night will highlight “Catholic Schools in our Families” with the school’s signature CSW event, Family Night. Held on the school grounds beginning at 6:00 p. m., Family Night will feature dinner, entertainment, and the presentation of a new award, Parents of the Year.
The school’s celebration of Catholic Schools Week will conclude with the “Night with the Knights” AlumKnight fundraising banquet on Saturday. The “Night with the Knights” will feature a music video montage of the school’s history, raffle prizes, and entertainment. The event will also include the announcement of the 2017 AlumKnight of the Year. Tickets for the Night with the Knights are $50.00 each and can be purchased at the school’s Business Office or from AlumKnights. For more information, call 234-6184 or email Priscilla Dela Cruz at presdelacruz@gmail.com.
The celebration of Catholic Schools Week began as an annual event in 1974. Catholic Schools Week and the National Marketing Campaign are joint projects of the National Catholic Educational Association, the world’s largest private professional education association, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the national public policy organization of U.S. bishops.
