“Catholic Schools Week” annually provides all Catholics — whether they have children in Catholic schools or not — with the chance to think about how the faith is taught and witnessed and the “value” that Catholic schools offer to children, to parents, to families, to the Church and to society at large with respect to that faith and its influence.
Is that “value” worth the sacrifice it takes for parents and families to provide Catholic school education to their children when public school education is readily available without any extra cost required? … Having worked in Catholic education most of my life, I can state without hesitation, Catholic education is definitely worth it!”
—Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., J.C.D., Catholic Schools Week
As I prepared to write about Catholic Schools Week 2026, I went online for some background, to do some research, and to hear and see how other bishops and dioceses may be promoting Catholic Schools Week. For others who would like to learn more about Catholic Schools Week 2026, I would say that the BEST place to go would be the Website of the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Paterson where you will find an excellent and informative message from our Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Mary D. Baier and much more information about Catholic Education and the Catholic Schools in our diocese.
As Bishop, Catholic Schools Week is one of my favorite weeks of the year for many reasons. One of those reasons is that it is a wonderful opportunity for me to say THANK YOU to our Superintendent Mary Baier, and all the staff in our Catholic Schools Office, as well as to thank Father Paul Manning, our Episcopal Vicar for Education (and for Evangelization). It is also an opportunity to THANK all of our Catholic School Leaders, presidents, principals, pastors, consecrated religious, chaplains and administrators, as well as all of our dedicated Catholic School Teachers, staff, and volunteers for their daily dedication, hard work, and generous sacrifices that allow us, as a diocese to continue to offer the BEST in Catholic School Education to our students, their parents, and the wider community.
I decided to begin this column by sharing a quote from our “neighbor,” Bishop David O’Connell of the Diocese of Trenton, who wrote an excellent letter for Catholic Schools Week 2026. I have been blessed to know Bishop O’Connell since I was a college student at St. John’s University (in Queens) and “Father O’Connell” was serving as the Academic Dean of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. I was a junior when Father O’Connell arrived as Dean and, although I did not have the pleasure of having him as a teacher, it was around the time of Fr. O’Connell’s arrival that I was (finally) beginning to appreciate the tremendous value of the 21! years of Catholic Education I would receive from first grade, through high school, college, and (the last five years) in the major seminary.
When Bishop O’Connell says that he has “… worked in Catholic Education most of my life…”, that is “putting it mildly.” You can read Bishop O’Connell’s Biography on the Diocese of Trenton’s website. There you will see that one of the “highlights” of his work and ministry in Catholic Education was 12 years serving as the President of the Catholic University of America.
In addition to Bishop O’Connell’s “bio,” I would also encourage you to read the full text of his brief, but inspiring letter for Catholic Schools Week 2026, in which Bishop O’Connell speaks of the role of parents, as the “first catechists” of their children and the vital importance of the parents’, “direct and active involvement in their child’s Catholic faith formation…” He goes on to articulate the great “value” of Catholic Schools and Catholic Education as well as the very significant challenges faced by “many Catholic schools throughout the country, including our own Diocese…” We face those same challenges here in our Diocese of Paterson. Yet, despite the challenges, I echo the words of Bishop O’Connell, “Catholic education is definitely worth it!”
I also agree with Bishop O’Connell when he says that Catholic Schools Week provides an opportunity for, “all Catholics – whether they have children in Catholic schools or not” to reflect on and consider the “value” of Catholic Schools and, not only the great academic education, but the “formation in faith” that our Catholic Schools provide for students, collaborating with parents in that most important responsibility of raising children in the practice of our Faith.
Another reason why Catholic Schools Week is one of my favorite weeks of the year is that I get to visit many of our Diocesan Catholic Schools for Mass and other special events that take place during this week when we try to highlight the great value of the Catholic Schools throughout our diocese, affirming and thanking parents, school leaders, teachers and ALL members of our wider “School Communities.” If you hear of a Catholic Schools Week Mass, Open House, or other event in your parish or in a neighboring parish, please consider attending and inviting others – especially parents with school-age children – to attend.
I love the choice of the Theme for Catholic Schools Week 2026: “United in Faith and Community.” The more that we are ALL, “united in Faith and Community” in the recognition and appreciation of the value of our Catholic Schools, the more that we will be able to meet the significant challenges that we face. You may recall that the theme for our Diocesan Ministries Appeal this year was, “Three Counties, One Family of Fath.” The DMA is one of many ways that we, as “One Family of Faith,” can support the Catholic Schools throughout the three Counties that make up our diocese, as we recognize and give thanks for the great value of our Catholic Schools.
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Catholic Schools Week 2026: Reflecting on the ‘value’ of Catholic education #Catholic –
“Catholic Schools Week” annually provides all Catholics — whether they have children in Catholic schools or not — with the chance to think about how the faith is taught and witnessed and the “value” that Catholic schools offer to children, to parents, to families, to the Church and to society at large with respect to that faith and its influence.
Is that “value” worth the sacrifice it takes for parents and families to provide Catholic school education to their children when public school education is readily available without any extra cost required? … Having worked in Catholic education most of my life, I can state without hesitation, Catholic education is definitely worth it!”
—Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., J.C.D., Catholic Schools Week
As I prepared to write about Catholic Schools Week 2026, I went online for some background, to do some research, and to hear and see how other bishops and dioceses may be promoting Catholic Schools Week. For others who would like to learn more about Catholic Schools Week 2026, I would say that the BEST place to go would be the Website of the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Paterson where you will find an excellent and informative message from our Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Mary D. Baier and much more information about Catholic Education and the Catholic Schools in our diocese.
As Bishop, Catholic Schools Week is one of my favorite weeks of the year for many reasons. One of those reasons is that it is a wonderful opportunity for me to say THANK YOU to our Superintendent Mary Baier, and all the staff in our Catholic Schools Office, as well as to thank Father Paul Manning, our Episcopal Vicar for Education (and for Evangelization). It is also an opportunity to THANK all of our Catholic School Leaders, presidents, principals, pastors, consecrated religious, chaplains and administrators, as well as all of our dedicated Catholic School Teachers, staff, and volunteers for their daily dedication, hard work, and generous sacrifices that allow us, as a diocese to continue to offer the BEST in Catholic School Education to our students, their parents, and the wider community.
I decided to begin this column by sharing a quote from our “neighbor,” Bishop David O’Connell of the Diocese of Trenton, who wrote an excellent letter for Catholic Schools Week 2026. I have been blessed to know Bishop O’Connell since I was a college student at St. John’s University (in Queens) and “Father O’Connell” was serving as the Academic Dean of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. I was a junior when Father O’Connell arrived as Dean and, although I did not have the pleasure of having him as a teacher, it was around the time of Fr. O’Connell’s arrival that I was (finally) beginning to appreciate the tremendous value of the 21! years of Catholic Education I would receive from first grade, through high school, college, and (the last five years) in the major seminary.
When Bishop O’Connell says that he has “… worked in Catholic Education most of my life…”, that is “putting it mildly.” You can read Bishop O’Connell’s Biography on the Diocese of Trenton’s website. There you will see that one of the “highlights” of his work and ministry in Catholic Education was 12 years serving as the President of the Catholic University of America.
In addition to Bishop O’Connell’s “bio,” I would also encourage you to read the full text of his brief, but inspiring letter for Catholic Schools Week 2026, in which Bishop O’Connell speaks of the role of parents, as the “first catechists” of their children and the vital importance of the parents’, “direct and active involvement in their child’s Catholic faith formation…” He goes on to articulate the great “value” of Catholic Schools and Catholic Education as well as the very significant challenges faced by “many Catholic schools throughout the country, including our own Diocese…” We face those same challenges here in our Diocese of Paterson. Yet, despite the challenges, I echo the words of Bishop O’Connell, “Catholic education is definitely worth it!”
I also agree with Bishop O’Connell when he says that Catholic Schools Week provides an opportunity for, “all Catholics – whether they have children in Catholic schools or not” to reflect on and consider the “value” of Catholic Schools and, not only the great academic education, but the “formation in faith” that our Catholic Schools provide for students, collaborating with parents in that most important responsibility of raising children in the practice of our Faith.
Another reason why Catholic Schools Week is one of my favorite weeks of the year is that I get to visit many of our Diocesan Catholic Schools for Mass and other special events that take place during this week when we try to highlight the great value of the Catholic Schools throughout our diocese, affirming and thanking parents, school leaders, teachers and ALL members of our wider “School Communities.” If you hear of a Catholic Schools Week Mass, Open House, or other event in your parish or in a neighboring parish, please consider attending and inviting others – especially parents with school-age children – to attend.
I love the choice of the Theme for Catholic Schools Week 2026: “United in Faith and Community.” The more that we are ALL, “united in Faith and Community” in the recognition and appreciation of the value of our Catholic Schools, the more that we will be able to meet the significant challenges that we face. You may recall that the theme for our Diocesan Ministries Appeal this year was, “Three Counties, One Family of Fath.” The DMA is one of many ways that we, as “One Family of Faith,” can support the Catholic Schools throughout the three Counties that make up our diocese, as we recognize and give thanks for the great value of our Catholic Schools.