Archdiocese of Louisville Celebrates National Catholic Schools Week

CALENDAR ADVISORY

ARCHDIOCESE OF LOUISVILLE CELEBRATES
NATIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

In the Archdiocese of Louisville, approximately 21,000 students and 1,700 faculty and staff at 48 Catholic elementary and secondary schools will celebrate National Catholic Schools Week from January 24-January 30, 2010. The theme for this year’s Catholic Schools Week is “Catholic Schools: Dividends For Life.”

Festivities for the week include the annual liturgy at 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 26, at St. Agnes Parish (1920 Newburg Road, Louisville). Student representatives from all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Louisville will attend this liturgy, which will be celebrated by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D.

At the liturgy, awards will be given, including the Distinguished Elementary Principal Award, which will be presented to Carol Meirose (St. Agnes Elementary School), the Outstanding School Volunteer Award, which will be presented to Karen Brown (Trinity High School) and the Religious Educational Excellence Award, which will be presented to Sue Neubauer (Ascension Elementary School), In addition, the recipient of the Fr. Joseph McGee Award for Outstanding Catholic Educator, Sheila Mattingly (St. Joseph School, Bardstown) will be acknowledged. The Father McGee award is presented each year at the Salute to Catholic School Alumni dinner, which will be held on Tuesday, March 9, 2010.

The 48 Catholic elementary and secondary schools are located in seven counties in the Archdiocese of Louisville. Schools will be participating in many activities throughout the week. The following pages contain a sampling of activities and a listing of elementary open houses.

Year for Priests-Alumni Visit Our Lady of Lourdes

On Thursday, January 28 at 8:15 a.m. two archdiocesan priests — Fr. John Burke and Fr. Ron Domhoff — who are alumni of the school will visit Our Lady of Lourdes (510 Breckenridge Lane). Both graduated from the eighth grade in 1960. During this “Year for Priests,” Fr. Burke and Fr. Domhoff will describe their grade-school years and how this experience influenced their decisions to become priests. This presentation will take place in the church. Fr. Burke is pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in the Portland neighborhood of Louisville, and Fr. Ron Domhoff is pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in southwest Jefferson County. Pope Benedict XVI declared a “Year for Priests” beginning on June 19, 2009 and concluding in June of 2010. This purpose of this observance is to deepen the commitment of priests to their ministry and to foster an appreciation for this vocation among all Catholics.
CONTACT: Ann Pifer, 502/896-0241, ext. 13

Holy Trinity Holds 8th Grade-Faculty Volleyball Game

Holy Trinity School (423 Cherrywood Road) will hold a faculty versus eighth grade volleyball game on Wednesday, January 27, at 1:00 p.m. in the school gym.
CONTACT: Jack Richards, 502/897-2785

Appreciation at St. Athanasius for Departing Pastor

On Wednesday, January 27, at approximately 9:00 a.m., St. Athanasius School (5915 Outer Loop) students will present cards to St. Athanasius parish’s pastor, Fr. Terry Bradshaw, who is leaving the parish to become pastor of St. Bernadette Parish. At St. Bernadette, Fr. Bradshaw is taking the place of Bishop-elect William F. Medley, who will be ordained Bishop of Owensboro on February 10.
CONTACT: Tina McWilliams 502/969-2345

St. Leonard Hosts Honor Guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

On Tuesday, January 26, after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, St. Leonard School (440 Zorn Avenue) will host Justin Bickett, who serves as an honor guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Justin, a Louisville native, is a graduate of St. Stephen Martyr Elementary (1997) and St. Xavier High School (2001). He entered the service after high school and was recruited after basic training to serve in this capacity. Mr. Bickett will talk to the students about the responsibility and training for this special honor. The event will take place at approximately 9:30 a.m. in the Church.
CONTACT: Linda Kinderman, 502/897-5265

Stretch and Grow at St. Leonard

On Thursday, January 28, St. Leonard School (440 Zorn Avenue) welcomes Pam Thorpe and her “Stretch and Grow” program as part of its Catholic Schools Week celebration. The program focuses on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and 30 minutes of exercise each day. The children in grades pre-K to 8 will learn exercises to do at home and tips about making healthy choices. The program will run every 30 minutes from 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the school gym.
CONTACT: Kathleen Willenbrink, 502/551-6165.
Catholic School Open Houses

In addition to the activities listed above, several schools are hosting open houses, registration and tours of their schools during Catholic Schools Week. The following schools are having open houses, tours or registration events during this week. (All schools are in Louisville unless otherwise noted.)

• St. Agnes School, 1800 Newburg Road. Applications being accepted for grades K-8. Come to school office from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Kindergarten applications due February 1, 2010.)
• St. Aloysius School, 122 Mount Mercy Drive, Pewee Valley. Kindergarten screening, Saturday, January 30, 9 a.m. (Required for incoming kindergarten students.)
• St. Aloysius School, 197 South Plum Street, Shepherdsville. Open House/New Family Registration, Sunday, January 24, 2-4 p.m.
• Ascension School, 4600 Lynnbrook Drive. Open House/Registration, Wednesday, January 27, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• St. Augustine School, 236 South Spalding Avenue, Lebanon. Registration is available all week during school hours (8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
• St. Francis of Assisi, 1938 Alfresco Place. New student registration open until Wednesday, January 27, at 3 p.m. Register at office during school hours: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• St. Gabriel School, 5503 Bardstown Road. Open House, Wednesday, January 27, 8-10 a.m.
• Holy Trinity School, 423 Cherrywood Road. Open House/Registration, Thursday, January 28, 8-11 a.m.
• John Paul II Academy, 3525 Goldsmith Lane. Open House, Tuesday, January 26, 5:30-7 p.m., and Wednesday, January 27, 8-10 a.m. Registration for new families begins February 1, 2010.
• St. Margaret Mary School, 7813 Shelbyville Road. Registration for new students, Monday, January 25, 7:30-10 a.m.
• Nativity Academy at St. Boniface, 529 East Liberty Street. Registration during school hours, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Must be entering grade 6 or 7 and qualify for the federal free and reduced lunch program to be considered for admission.
• St. Michael School, 3705 Stone Lakes Drive. Pre-registration Sunday, January 24, 9 a.m. to noon. Registration will be taken after this date, but first priority will be given to families who register by this date.
• St. Nicholas Academy, 5501 New Cut Road. Open House, Wednesday, January 27, 9:00 a.m.
• Notre Dame Academy, 1927 Lewiston Drive. Open House, Wednesday, January 27, 8-11 a.m. and 5-7 p.m. Also, pre-registration on same day from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
• Our Lady of Lourdes School, 510 Breckenridge Lane. Open House, Wednesday, January 27, 8-10:30 a.m.
• St. Patrick School, 1000 North Beckley Station Road. Open House, Monday, January 25, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. New student registration on Thursday, January 28, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4:30-6 p.m.
• St. Rita School, 8709 Preston Highway. Open House/New Student Registration, Sunday, January 24, 12:30 p.m.
• St. Stephen Martyr, 2931 Pindell Avenue. Open House, Wednesday, January 27, 8-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

#    #    #