As BSM celebrates Catholic Schools Week, it is essential to understand the reasoning behind the celebrations. There is a deeper meaning surrounding the week than simply celebrating with yummy food and fun dress-ups, though all of those things are very enjoyable.
To honor the Catholic traditions and roles of education, Catholic schools around the country spend this week celebrating with special activities, dress-ups, and mass. Schools being rooted in the same faith can create strong bonds and friendships which is definitely worth celebrating. Also, being a private Catholic school is different from being a public non-religious school, because Catholic schools offer amazing opportunities for students to grow their faith. Some examples include mass, before-school prayer, and theology classes. That being said, the President of Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Danielle Hermanny, has one thing in particular about this week that she is very fond of. “What I like about Catholic Schools Week is it is both an opportunity for us to celebrate this identity that sets us apart from some other schools, but it also unites us with other schools,” Hermanny said.
Although all catholic schools are given a theme for the week, each school can pick how they celebrate that theme. “The theme this year, nationally, is Catholic schools united in faith and community, and then schools kind of decide how they are going to celebrate that in their community,” Hermanny said.
The theme this year, nationally, is Catholic schools united in faith and community, and then schools kind of decide how they are going to celebrate that in their community
— Danielle Hermanny
The week isn’t just for people to celebrate themselves being Catholic, it is to celebrate the school being Catholic as a whole and the views that we go by as a school. Junior High Principal Rikki Mortl thinks that regardless of your religious affiliation, it is still important to celebrate attending a Catholic school. “It’s something that makes us unique. And to me, I see it as a time for us to come together as a community and celebrate our uniqueness,” Mortl said.
Celebrating teachers and students is an added bonus of the week, as both parties are given access to special free foods. However, Mortl loves acknowledging the true meaning of the week by attending Catholic services. “Going to mass, or showing appreciation for teachers and students are my favorite parts of the week,” Mortl said.
The true reason for Catholic schools celebrating this week is to shine a light on what makes them different. Students don’t have to be Catholic to celebrate this week, which is what makes it so inclusive. Students simply have to attend a Catholic school and be willing to honor what sets it apart from other non-religious schools.