Blog

Holy Week & Easter 2024

March 27, 2024

The Paschal Triduum is nearly upon us. From the evening of Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, the events of this week prove the masterpiece of God’s saving act. Each day bursts at the seams with deep significance of the love that Jesus displays most vividly on the cross. We invite you to join our schools in making the most of this sacred week.

Mrs. Smith’s Journey to Catholicism and St. Patrick’s Catholic School

March 22, 2024

In a world where spirituality often takes a backseat to the hustle and bustle of daily life, Cortney Smith’s journey stands as a testament to the transformative power of faith and the impact of a nurturing educational environment. From a childhood filled with spiritual longing to a fulfilling career as elementary principal at St. Patrick's Catholic School in Portland, Michigan, Cortney's story is one of discovery, perseverance, and the unwavering guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Significance of the Act of Contrition in the Sacrament of Penance

March 13, 2024

With worldly distractions constantly competing for our attention, it's easy to overlook the profound power of reconciliation and repentance. Yet, within the sacred tradition of our Catholic faith, the sacrament of penance offers a path to spiritual renewal and healing. 

 

Understanding Lent

February 12, 2024

This Wednesday, Catholics across the globe will flock to churches to commemorate the start of the Lenten season. While all Catholic school students will attend Mass during the school day, it is encouraged that us adults carve out time in our day too. (For a schedule of Ash Wednesday Masses and services, please see here.)

Celebrating Catholic Schools Week (January 28 - February 3, 2024)

January 24, 2024

For 50 years, Catholics schools across the nation have recognized the last weekend of January and the following week as Catholic Schools Week. It is such an exciting time for our students, families, teachers, and staff! So much work goes into planning and executing all the special events, traveling to service projects throughout our diocese, inviting new families into our communities, and more. It is truly a time for us to express our gratitude and dedication to Catholic education. 

Pray with Us: 9 Days for Life Novena (January 16-24)

January 15, 2024

Tomorrow marks the start of the 9 Days for Life Novena sponsored by RespectLife.org. Respect Life is a project of the USCCB that is dedicated to teaching about “respect for all human life from conception to natural death.” The goal of Respect Life is to promote a culture of life and organize for the protection of the unborn. As Catholics, we understand the most effective method of achieving this goal is through prayer.

Understanding the Christmas Season

December 27, 2023

The Office of Catholic Schools wishes you and your family continued blessings throughout the remaining days of Christmas!

For much of the world, Christmas is a single-day celebration, immediately after which trees lose their honored place in the house, lights are boxed away, and carols of good cheer fade out. However, the Church celebrates the birth of Christ throughout the entire Christmas season, which officially culminates with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 8). 

Understanding the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

December 12, 2023

(Part Two - to read Part One in recognizing the importance of the Advent season, click here.)

In keeping with the veneration of our Blessed Mother, the Church reserves December 12 as the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In 1531, a woman appeared to Juan Diego on the Hill of Tepeyac in modern-day Mexico City, saying, “I am the ever Virgin Mary, Mother of the True, living God.” She implored the man to build a shrine on that very mountain.

Recognizing the Church’s Diverse Members

November 22, 2023

As we have heard many times over the last few weeks, November is a month dedicated to contemplating our own mortality by praying for the souls in purgatory and honoring the saints in heaven. When the reality of memento mori, remembering our death, causes fear and anxiety, we can have peace in echoing the words of St. Paul: “Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory?” Looking to the saints as heroes of the faith, we strive to imitate Christ as they did, and by doing so, defeat death and gain new life in God.