2025 ‘United in Faith and Community’ Catholic Schools Week is here

Bishop Michael Martin surprised students and parents Tuesday with a visit to Our Lady of the Assumption School. After welcoming students during their morning arrival, he addressed the entire student body. CHARLOTTE — Students, teachers and parents are taking part this week in the most festive school days of the year, Catholic Schools Week.

This year will greet the largest turnout the Diocese of Charlotte has ever seen, with enrollment numbers soaring to 8,350 students spread across 20 schools spanning from the mountains to the Piedmont. This year’s theme is “United in Faith and Community,” and it is set for Jan. 26 to Feb. 1. The week is packed with a fun-filled schedule of faith, service and fellowship.

Catholic schools across the nation have participated in this event since 1974, joining together as one united Catholic student body to spread a message of unity and hope.

“Catholic Schools Week is an opportunity to shine a light on the impact Catholic education has on the formation of not only our students, but those in Catholic schools across the nation,” said Tara Hackman, advancement director for the diocese’s Catholic schools.

WHAT'S ON THE SCHEDULE

The week features students dressing silly, playing games and sports, going on service field trips, praying and attending Mass, and helping out in their communities. While every school has unique events, here are some of the highlights:

Starting off the week, Christ the King High School is hosting eighth-graders from Our Lady of the Assumption School, St. Mark School and Sacred Heart School to give them a glimpse of what high school is like, while Bishop Michael Martin will deliver a special prayer.

On Wednesday and Thursday, students will venture off-campus to serve people suffering from brain injuries at the Hinds Feet Farm in Huntersville.

On the other side of Mecklenburg County, Charlotte Catholic High School will have its annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament. The last teams standing will test their skills in the gym on Friday against faculty.

On Thursday, a special Mass will be celebrated in honor of vocations. Father Brian Becker, alumnus and diocesan vocations promoter, will preside, and afterward, local seminarians and sisters will share their vocation stories.

Service drives and projects are also planned throughout the week.

St. Patrick School kindergartners will travel to Dilworth Soup Kitchen, while the upper grades will bus over to Catholic Charities’ Charlotte food pantry for a service project. Community speakers such as Anne Gildea from Dilworth Soup Kitchen, Martin Jackson from Charlotte Rescue Mission and Joe Hamby from Roof Above will inspire and inform.

On Friday, parents are invited to attend Mass, visit classrooms and watch a basketball game between faculty and fifth-graders.

Over at St. Ann School, alumni will come back as “Mystery Readers,” teachers and students will face off in a volleyball game, and parents are invited to talk about their vocations with different classrooms.

Our Lady of the Assumption School will start the week with Mass at the parish church on Sunday morning, featuring the OLA Band. Students are encouraged to don their spirit wear.

On Tuesday, a school-wide bingo game will be held in the gym, and students will show off their talents on Friday at a talent show.

St. Gabriel School will host a breakfast for volunteers on Monday, a luncheon for teachers on Tuesday, and on Friday play games such as “Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader” and “Where is Bishop Martin?”.

St. Leo School in Winston-Salem starts off the week by having students serve and speak at Sunday Masses. On Monday, they’ll hear from local religious organizations and nonprofits about their roles in the community.

Superintendent Dr. Greg Monroe, who will be visiting schools all week to share in the fun, is excited. “This is a great opportunity to celebrate the very best of our schools and our communities.

It has always been a joyful opportunity to find the true meaning of what makes Catholic schools, Catholic schools,” he said.

— Lisa Geraci. Photos by Troy Hull and provided

Bishop Michael Martin visited Our Lady of the Assumption School during Catholic Schools Week.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gregory Monroe dawns a dino costume at St. Gabriel School in Charlotte during Catholic Schools Week.

Bishop Martin visited Christ the King High School in Huntersville to start Catholic Schools Week.

He encouraged the students to never be afraid to keep learning and ask questions when they don’t know something.

Sacred Heart School celebrated Catholic School with Magical Monday and pajama day and no homework day!

Margaret Mary Yodzis with St. Leo the Great Church spoke with students at St. Leo School for Celebrate Your Community Day.

Caleb Gossett with Ronald McDonald House spoke with students at St. Leo School for Celebrate Your Community Day.

To kick off Catholic Schools Week 2025, the students at St. Matthew School partnered with Servants with a Heart to pack over 50,000 meals for local and global communities.

To kick off Catholic Schools Week 2025, the students at St. Matthew School partnered with Servants with a Heart to pack over 50,000 meals for local and global communities,

To kick off Catholic Schools Week 2025, the students at St. Matthew School partnered with Servants with a Heart to pack over 50,000 meals for local and global communities.

Our Lady of Mercy Middle School students enjoy their bowling adventure during Catholic Schools Week. (Copy)

Immaculate Heart of Mary School students are blessed to learn, pray, and grow together with help from the parish community. Students showed their appreciation by serving and speaking at every Mass this weekend and handed out Thank You cards.

Immaculate Heart of Mary students celebrated its community by putting together and delivering baskets to members of our community this morning to say thank you.

Baskets were delivered to fire stations, the police station, post offices, the hospital, Pennybyrn and the library.

Bishop McGuinness High School student baked homemade cookies, cleaned around the house, chalked the walk, and made welcome cards for SECU Family House of Winston-Salem.

Bishop McGuinness High School student baked homemade cookies, cleaned around the house, chalked the walk, and made welcome cards for SECU Family House of Winston Salem.

St. Patrick School kicked off Catholic Schools Week with its Silver for Cerebral Palsy campaign. Throughout the week, students will be bringing in spare change to benefit Go B Go Foundation that helps children with neurological conditions access specializ

St. Ann School was presented with an award from the Daughters of the American Revolution today for “Proper Use, Correct Display, and Patriotic Presentation of the Flag of The United States of America.” Students also celebrated the Nation for Catholic Scho

Students at Asheville Catholic School celebrate Catholic Schools Week with themed dress days: jersey, dress like a teacher and Hawaain-themed outfits started the week.

Celebrating Catholic School Week at Holy Trinity Middle School. Each grade performed a service project with the help of our generous PTO. Students supported Roof Above with giving socks, Bright Blessings with birthday bags and Boys and Girls Clubs of Char

Immaculata Catholic School fifth-graders read books celebrating our nation to first graders during Catholic Schools Week.

Immaculata Catholic School students during Catholic Schools Week have collected pet food for an animal shelter, made cards for homebound parishioners, and spent time reading together.

At Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, students put on a “Nacho Average” PFA Meeting to discuss a little school business and have a whole lot of fun.

Students at St. Michael School in Gastonia celebrated Catholic Schols Week with ice cream treats thanks to its community partnership with Mount Holly Food Lion.

The final day of Catholic Schools Week at Holy Trinity Middle School started with some friendly competition in the gymnasium. Holy Trinity students and staff took to the court for several friendly games of dodgeball.

The action was so fierce that even Principal Kevin Parks couldn’t avoid the ball.

Charotte Catholic celebrated a Mass for vocations during Catholic Schools Week.

St. Ann School’s parents were treated to works of arts this morning after Mass. The students had an opportunity to give their parents a personal tour and show off their art inspired by St. Francis that lined the first-floor hallway.

Charotte Catholic celebrated a Mass for vocations during Catholic Schools Week.

St. Pius X students celebrated Vocations Day on Tuesday by attending a special Catholic Schools Week children’s Mass.