Catholic school students in the Diocese of Grand Rapids participated in the 2019 Creating on the Margins art contest, a national program by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development which explores poverty's root causes and the Church's response to it.

This is a guest post by Sarah Castro, a mom whose children attend St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Greenville. She writes about how Catholic education provides an enduring foundation for her children's lives, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Office of Catholic Schools is excited to share a letter from Bishop Walkowiak with a date to resume public Masses in the diocese.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Superintendent Faber shares a letter with the latest information about Catholic school education amid the circumstances of COVID-19.

Dear Catholic school families,

Thank you so much for the many ways you have jumped in to support Catholic education at home! We know this hasn’t been easy. Without your partnership, we would not have transitioned so quickly to remote learning, and your perseverance will allow us to end the school year on time.

“This is not, surely, a time for indifference, selfishness, divisions, because the whole world is suffering and must unite itself in facing the pandemic.” (cfr. Pope Francis, Urbi et Orbi Easter message, April 12, 2020)

Religious believers and all people of good will are invited to observe a world day of prayer, fasting and works of charity on Thursday, May 14, to implore the divine to aid humanity in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read Bishop Walkowiak's letter announcing the suspension of public Masses and all other liturgical and devotional services through May 28, 2020. Bishop Walkowiak also shares some of the guidance which will be in place when public worship is restored.

Dear Friends in Christ,

hree teachers from Catholic schools in the Diocese of Grand Rapids have been honored by the Van Andel Education Institute for being outstanding educators.

VAEI named the 2020 Betty Van Andel Teachers of Excellence during this Teacher Appreciation Week. Among them are:

The Office of Catholic Schools invites families to take advantage of a new program to save money on cleaning materials, bathroom supplies, office and technology equipment, and more, from Office Depot and Xperience Inc. With the shift to learning at home, and in many cases working from home, we hope this program helps the household budget go further.

Throughout this school year, Catholic school teachers in the Diocese of Grand Rapids have been studying Theology of the Body, St. John Paul II’s teaching about God’s vision of the human person and human sexuality. This faith formation is further preparing faculty for teaching about what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God.

Dear Catholic educators,

"How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the one bringing good news,
Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation,
saying to Zion, 'Your God is King!'"
-Isaiah 52:7