A week to celebrate Catholic education in Galveston-Houston

Photo of last year’s Religion Bowl Jeopardy Game at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School. The school is hosting a Religion Bowl Jeopardy Game for kindergarten to eighth grades on Jan. 28. (Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School)

HOUSTON — National Catholic Schools Week is underway as Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese are celebrating their education through different events, Masses and initiatives.

Themed “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community,” most schools opened the week, with Mass on Sunday, Jan. 26. Sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Secretariat of Catholic Education, Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the U.S.

The celebration closes on Saturday, Feb. 1.

Mazie McCoy, Ed.D., Archdiocesan Catholic School superintendent, said there are many amazing things taking place on each campus every day that deserve to be celebrated.

“We are grateful to the many friends and supporters of Catholic education as we all work together to form disciples of Christ who will transform the world,” she said. “Graduates of our Catholic schools are able to think critically, collaborate with others, communicate effectively and serve others as disciples of Christ.”

McCoy said schools will observe Catholic Schools Week by celebrating Mass, competing in academic competitions, participating in various events, providing special treats, having special dress days and hosting open houses.

“I invite the community to learn more about the quality education provided in our Catholic schools by visiting a school during Catholic Schools Week,” she said.

On Monday, St. Thomas More Catholic School in Houston hosted a school Book Character Parade.

Carolina Bowman, principal at the school, said the students brought their favorite book and dressed up as their favorite book character. The parade route began at the preschool, through the rest of the campus, exiting through the front office doors, looping past the library patio, and ending back at the preschool gate. Parents were invited to line the parade route along the fence to cheer on students.

“Although it will be quick, I hope it reinforces our students to engage with books and reading while having a fun time celebrating a community of learners,” Bowman said.

Dr. Mary Mack, principal at Assumption Catholic School, focused on celebrating community Monday by assigning students to clean out the school and “Make it shine.”

“Each class has an area to work on outside, in the gym, etc.,” she said.

Mack said that on Wednesday, Assumption was set to celebrate the nation.

“Middle School classes will be writing to our congressmen and senators while elementary will be writing to military members,” she said.

Tuesday, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School has planned a Religion Bowl Jeopardy Game for kindergarten to eighth grades.

“We break the competition up and have age-appropriate questions for teams of Kinder to first grade, second to fifth grade, and fifth-eighth grade. There ends up being three to four students from different grade levels on each team, Catie Watso, advancement director at the school, said. 

Also on Tuesday, Holy Family Catholic School in Galveston was expected to host a “Gallery of Saints.”

“Students have been learning about saints and will share what they have learned,” said Jeanna Porter, principal at Holy Family Catholic School. “Elementary students will share food and snacks from the country of the saint that they learned about.”

On Friday, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School in The Woodlands set their plans for their first-ever Staff Inflatable Dance Competition.

“The teachers and staff will be disguised in inflatable costumes and will sing songs while dancing, and students have to guess which teacher is beneath the costume,” said Veronica D. Tucker, principal at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School.

During the week, Catholic schools planned to share their Catholic Schools Week celebrations on social media using #CSW2025.

To learn more about Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston or to find a Catholic school nearby, visit www.choosecatholicschools.org.