January 25, 2023 (Louisville, Ky.) – Students, families, pastors, faculty and staff at 48 Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Louisville will join dioceses throughout the nation in celebrating Catholic Schools Week from January 29-February 4, 2023. The theme for this year’s Catholic Schools Week is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.”
Festivities include a Mass on Tuesday, January 31, 10 a.m., at St. Agnes Church, 1920 Newburg Road, Louisville. The Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre, D.D., Archbishop of Louisville, will preside and preach.
For the Mass on January 31, the Office of Catholic Schools asked students attending (usually 8-10 per school) to bring an item that will support those affected by human trafficking as part of the commitment to service and caring for the needs of others, which is a hallmark of Catholic schools. The Archdiocese is partnering with Catholic Charities of Louisville and its Youth Board, made up of students in our own local high schools, to support the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative, a ministry of Catholic Charities that serves victims of human trafficking. Students were asked to collect the items most needed, which include hygiene items– shampoo/conditioner, body wash, shaving kits, toothbrush/toothpaste. As the school representatives enter St. Agnes Church, they will place donated items in baskets to demonstrate that when all schools work together, great things can be achieved as part of the mission to be Christ for others.
At the Mass, Archbishop Shelton and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Beth Bowling will present the following recognitions: Distinguished Catholic School Leader Award (Neil Hulsewede, Principal of St. Rita School in Louisville), Irene Casey Catholic Inclusion Award (Jennifer Richards, Holy Trinity School, Clifton Campus in Louisville); and Outstanding School Volunteer Award (Charles Leis, Trinity High School, Catholic Education Foundation and EdChoice Kentucky). Terry Rogan, a teacher at St. Gregory School in Samuels, Ky., will be recognized for the Father Joseph McGee Award for Outstanding Catholic Educator. The Catholic Education Foundation presents the Father Joseph McGee award at the annual Salute to Catholic School Alumni Dinner, which will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2023, at the Galt House Hotel.
In addition, the Catholic Education Foundation will present poster and essay-writing contest awards to elementary students for winning posters and to a high school student for a winning essay. The poster and essay contests invite students to reflect on the theme for this school year: “Open the Door to Jesus: Be Intentional in Walking with Him and Sharing the Gospel Message” and to depict/answer how they, as Catholic school students, share the teachings of Jesus in their words, actions, and deeds.
48 Catholic elementary and secondary schools reside in seven counties of the Archdiocese of Louisville. Below is a sampling of ways in which various schools are observing Catholic Schools Week.
Assumption High School (2170 Tyler Lane, Louisville, Ky.)
Assumption High School’s daily announcements each morning at 8:15 a.m. (except for 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday) will feature an adult staff member who will share a personal reflection on one of the five distinctive features of Catholicism: ritual, sacrament, tradition, community and social teachings. The goal is for students to learn why the Catholic faith is relevant today from inspiration provided by adults that the students love and trust.
On Monday through Friday, each of the constituent groups of the school will be featured during morning prayer, social media and other fun events:
Monday: Alumnae, board members, donors, volunteers
Tuesday: Catholic Elementary schools
Wednesday: Faculty and staff
Thursday: Students
Friday: Parents
Contact: Mary Ann Steutermann, (502) 458-9551 or MaryAnn.Steutermann@AHSrockets.org.
Bethlehem High School (309 West Stephen Foster Avenue, Bardstown, Ky.)
Bethlehem will hold a variety of activities to honor parishes, community, students, faculty and those who serve the Church through a religious vocation.
On Monday, January 30: Bethlehem’s parent-teacher organization, called the Sunshine Committee, will hold a light breakfast for faculty and staff, beginning at 7:45 to 10 a.m. Because Bethlehem means “House of Bread,” members of the school community also will deliver bread to first responders beginning at 3:30 p.m. In addition, seniors from Bethlehem will visit feeder elementary schools closest to the Bethlehem High School campus to read stories of the saints to students in the elementary schools.
On Tuesday, January 31: Bethlehem High School students will participate all day in a scavenger hunt during their religion classes. This will be focused on the school’s history.
On Wednesday, February 1: the Bethlehem High School community will prepare soups for the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral’s Super Bowl of Caring, which will be held on Saturday, February 11, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the St. Joseph Parish Hall.
On Thursday, February 2: Bethlehem students will celebrate vocations by writing thank you notes to their parish priests. Bethlehem’s parent-teacher organization, called the Sunshine Committee, will hold a soup luncheon for faulty members.
On Friday, February 3: To observe St. Blaise’s feast day, Deacon Steve Heil from the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral will bless the throats of students and faculty from 2:15 to 3 p.m. on the school campus. Faculty also will gather to discuss a Catholic education article.
On Sunday, February 5: The Bethlehem High School Choir will participate in the 11:00 a.m. Mass at the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral.
Contact: Sara Thurmond (502) 348-8594 or sthurmond@bethlehemhigh.org.
Holy Trinity School (423 Cherrywood Road, Louisville)
Holy Trinity School has a number of activities planned for Catholic Schools Week. These include:
Students will participate in a “What Makes Us Catholic” scavenger hunt within our church, highlighting different features that make our faith unique. During their religion classes throughout the week (Monday-Friday, January 30 – February 3), students will review the location and uses of items in our church.
Students will learn about patron saints representing our schools and the feast days that week in their religion classes (Monday-Friday, January 29-February 3), through a “Where’s the Patron Saint” game on the school cafeteria wall, much like Where’s Waldo.
The faculty and staff will play the eighth graders in volleyball games on Wednesday, February 1 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. in the school gym at Holy Trinity – St. Matthews Campus.
An all-school Catholic school themed bingo will be held on Thursday, February 2 at 2 p.m.
Students will participate in Eucharistic Adoration, offered the first Friday of every month, on Friday of Catholic Schools Week. During their Friday, February 3 religion classes, religion teachers will lead their students in Adoration in church at St. Frances of Rome Church, 2119 Payne Street, Louisville for the Clifton Campus and at Holy Trinity Church, 501 Cherrywood Road, Louisville, for the St. Matthews Campus.
Contact: Ashley Davenport, (502) 897-2785 or adavenport@ht-school.org.
St. Mary Academy (6500 Saint Bernadette Avenue, Prospect, Ky.)
Girl Scout Troop #3040 from St. Mary Academy will collect pet food items from Monday, January 30 to Friday, February 3. This will benefit the No Kill Louisville Shelter, which suffered a total loss of its pet food bank due to a burst pipe. The Girl Scout Troop is seeking to build leadership skills in its members by making a difference in the community. The No Kill Louisville Shelter will meet the Girl Scout Troop on Friday, February 3 at 2:45 p.m. on the parish campus to process the donations and load the truck.
Contact: Julie Speer, (502) 315-2553 or Julie.speer@saintmaryacademy.com.
Our Lady of Lourdes School (510 Breckenridge Lane, Louisville)
Students will hold a “Dollar War” from Monday, January 30 to Friday, February 10 to support the parish capital campaign for the school’s expansion and improvement project. The class that raises the most funds will present Fr. Scott Wimsett, Pastor, and the parish with the proceeds at Masses on Saturday-Sunday, February 25-26.
The school will hold a Bingo for students and grandparents on Monday, January 30, 9 to 11 a.m. in the school gym.
Contact: Morgan Wissing, (502) 895-5122 or morganw@ourlourdes.org.
St. Stephen Martyr School (2931 Pindell Avenue, Louisville)
The school will hold an open house on Sunday, January 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Interested families are invited to come and learn more about the school.
St. Stephen Martyr will hold a Day of Service on Tuesday, January 31. Most of these visits will take place in the afternoon. Please be in touch with Bridget Britt, Principal, for exact times.
This day will feature:
• Kindergarten and their sixth and seventh grade buddies will visit Audubon Elementary School to hide kindness rocks and share thank you notes for teachers and staff.
• First and eighth graders will visit the Audubon Police Department.
• Second graders will attend Mass and then provide treats to parishioners and parish staff after the Mass.
• Third and fourth graders will visit the Norton Immediate Health Care Center, 3101 Poplar Level Road, and other stores in the same shopping center.
• Fifth graders and preschoolers will make cards for residents of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and fifth graders will visit the facility to share the cards with residents.
Contact: Bridget Britt, Principal, (502) 635-7141 or bbritt@ssmartyr.org.
