CHARLOTTE — Catholic school students across the Diocese of Charlotte celebrated Catholic Schools Week Jan. 27-Feb. 2.
All 19 schools enjoyed opportunities to show their school spirit and appreciation to teachers and students, and participate in community service projects and a school Mass.
Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Masses at two schools this year: Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville and St. Mark School in Huntersville.
During his homily Jan. 30 at St. Mark Church, Bishop Jugis encouraged the students in their faith. “Jesus living in each one of our hearts brings us together and unites us,” he said. “We pray for our salvation and the salvation of the world. So we see how wonderfully the Mass unites us as one school family.”
“Isn’t that the special quality of a Catholic school – the Presence of Jesus Christ?” he asked. “As opposed to any other school we may have around here, either private school or public school?”
Through their shared faith and the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Catholic school brings students, parents and teachers together for a common purpose: serving God.
“What does God want from you?” he asked, then replied, “God wants you to be holy. God wants every one of us as His children to be holy. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit within each one of us.”
“In all that you do in school, in your learning, your studying, through your prayer – God wants this place, your school, also to be a holy place.”
He suggested three ways students can strive to be holy.
“One is to make sure you are praying every day,” he said. “Keep God first in our lives. He is why we are here, to serve.”
He also reminded students to attend Mass each Sunday. “It’s important to come together with your Church family, your parish family. The Holy Spirit will bring us to Mass so that we can hear the Word of God, Jesus, and receive His Body and Blood.”
Finally, he said, “Be charitable. If you really have the love of God in your heart, if Christ is dwelling there and you have the love of Christ, the love of Jesus in your heart, then that is going to show up in everything – in your actions, in your behavior, in how you treat other people with respect and kindness, serving others…”
Bishop Jugis reminded students to continue learning about their faith and to appreciate their education.
“We’re here during Catholic Schools Week to thank God for the gift of our school,” he said. “It is a gift that we re-ceive, and with gratitude we have to work to make it grow. We pray that we will always serve God with humble and with loving hearts.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Pictured above: Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Mass Jan. 30 for St. Mark School in Huntersville. (Photos by SueAnn Howell, Catholic News Herald)
