Students, faculty honor National Catholic Schools Week
Great Falls Central Catholic High School, Our Lady of Lourdes and Holy Spirit Catholic School are celebrating National Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 29 through Feb. 4 with seven days of events for both the students and the community.
On Sunday, Jan. 29, the theme is “Celebrating Your Parish,” which includes coffee and rolls hosted by GFCCHS students at St. Ann’s Cathedral and Corpus Christi Parish. Our Lady of Lourdes and Holy Spirit schools will also serve coffee and rolls in their school parishes, and Holy Spirit will hold an open house from noon to 3 p.m.
Families with students entering pre-K through grade 12 are invited to learn about the curriculum, meet teachers and staff and inquire about enrollment and financial aid.
“Celebrating Your Community” is the theme for Monday, Jan. 30, featuring a community food drive held by GFCCHS students. The drive includes several competitions: freshmen vs. juniors, sophomores vs. seniors and staff vs. all classes. The food collected goes to the St. Jude’s Food Pantry. Students can dress for the day in their favorite hat, Holy Spirit is making blessing bags for the Rescue Mission and Our Lady of Lourdes will collect diapers and books for the Cameron Family Center.
Tuesday, Jan. 31, celebrates students. For just one day, kids are allowed to wear sweats and feast on a taco bar for lunch. High school students will head to Holy Spirit and Our Lady of Lourdes to read in the classrooms, K-8 students will participate in a “Why I like attending Catholic School” essay contest, and Holy Spirit will hold a door decorating contest.
The schools get patriotic Wednesday, Feb. 1, with “Celebrating the Nation.” Students can dress in red, white and blue patriotic wear and, together with staff, pray for the nation. Holy Spirit School holds an open house from 5-8 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 2, encourages kids to celebrate vocations by dressing in their favorite team jersey. GFCCHS will write letters to priests in the diocese thanking them for their service, and Holy Spirit hosts a luncheon for all retired priests and nuns. At Our Lady of Lourdes, breakfast baskets will be provided for the local retired priests.
Did you attend a Catholic school in Great Falls? Head to Holy Spirit Catholic School from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday for an alumni reception. All graduates of HSCS, Blessed Trinity and Holy Family, Saint Gerard’s, Saints Peter and Paul, The Ursuline Academy and Saint Thomas who are 18 and older are welcome to attend.
The school week ends Friday, Feb. 3, by celebrating faculty, staff and volunteers with an all-school Mass where students and staff come together to show appreciation for the gift of Catholic education. Mass is held at Our Lady of Lourdes church at 9 a.m., and all are welcome to attend. Students will stay and listen to Father Garrett Nelson discuss vocations, there will be a blessing of the throats by Deacon Bob for GFCCHS students for Feast of St. Blaise followed by a luncheon for the staff and faculty.
The final day of national Catholic School Week, Saturday, Feb. 4, is themed “Celebrating Families.” Students and staff will give thanks for parents, guardians and other family members who play a vital role in Catholic education.
Reach Tribune Staff Writer Traci Rosenbaum at 791-1490. Follow her on Twitter @GFTrib_TRosenba.