The Diocese of Scranton is joining with Catholic schools across the United States to celebrate National Catholic Schools Week 2015, beginning this Sunday, January 25 and continuing through January 31.
This annual observance, with the theme “Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service,” focuses on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.
“Catholic schools are a vital ministry of the church rooted in its mission of evangelization. They provide a foundation for preparing our young people to pursue excellence and to live as faithful Catholics and members of society who uphold the dignity of all and serve those in need,” said the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton.
The 20 schools operated by the Diocese of Scranton are organized into four regional systems: Holy Redeemer, Luzerne County; Holy Cross, Lackawanna and Bradford Counties; Notre Dame, Monroe County; and St. John Neumann, Lycoming County.
The schools will observe National Catholic Schools Week with Masses and a variety of activities for students, families, and community members. Many schools will also host open houses this Sunday, January 25, to give families an opportunity to visit and talk to administrators, faculty and current students about the Catholic school experience. School locations and open house schedules can be found at www.dioceseofscranton.org/catholicschools/
“I am very excited about the future of Catholic education in our Diocese,” said Monsignor David Tressler, Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education and Superintendent of Catholic Schools. “I am indeed privileged to work with so many devoted and dedicated staff serving students in our schools. We are also grateful to the parents who entrust their children to our care and pray that more families will accept our invitation to be a part of our learning communities rooted in faith, hope, and love.”
Diocesan Catholic schools provide an environment that is spiritually sound, academically excellent and service oriented.
The Individualized Instruction (II) Program currently serves students with exceptionalities in the Holy Redeemer System at Good Shepherd Academy, Kingston, and Holy Redeemer High School, Wilkes-Barre; and in the Holy Cross System at All Saints Academy, Scranton, and Holy Cross High School, Dunmore.
In addition to a comprehensive academic program, Diocesan schools provide and encourage study in art, music and cultural enrichment. Educators help students explore their abilities in a variety of genres.
The schools also include individual and team athletic programs and a wide array of extra-curricular activities, both traditional and innovative, reflecting students’ myriad interests.
High school juniors and seniors are offered Advanced Placement classes as well as college-level courses at The University of Scranton, Marywood University, Misericordia University and King’s College, through the Diocesan Young Scholars Program.
In the Class of 2014, nearly 95 percent of the total number of graduates had plans to continue their education at the college or university level. Of that number, almost 34 were to attend Catholic institutions of higher learning. The four Diocesan Catholic high schools reported that, cumulatively, their graduates merited over 900 scholarship awards –– worth nearly $36 million.
