Catholic Schools

Seventy years ago, Fr. Joseph Patterson realized the primarily Hispanic children in his congregation were not being well served by local segregated schools.

A parade of people stepped up to the plate long before Bishop Eduardo A. Nevares ever took the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Jan. 22.

Catholic Schools Week, the annual observance highlighting the opportunities a faith-filled education provides to young people and its contributions to the church, local communities and the nation, is Jan. 25-31.

Catholic education is something from the heart of God that’s meant to evangelize. That was the message heard by more than 800 gathered for the seventh annual Night of Hope gala.

A new preschool building in east Phoenix blessed and dedicated on the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux not only bears her namesake, but serves to emulate her “little way” of spiritual childhood.

Night of Hope, the signature event for the Catholic Schools Office in the Diocese of Phoenix, will celebrate Catholic education at every level — from preschool to college.

A $4.75 million grant to benefit Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Phoenix will not only enhance digital learning, but help propel them through the 21st century.

Thousands of students are settling in to new rules and classroom procedures this month. Yet for the 14,000 or so in 35 Catholic elementary and high schools across the Diocese of Phoenix, there’s something familiar that unites them.

The annual Mass and rally are just two ways that Arizona’s 21,000 Catholic school students and the community participate in the national Catholic Schools Week celebration, which ran from Jan. 26 through Feb. 1. The week was filled with fun events, open houses, the Diocesan Spelling Bee and other activities for students, families and the community at large.

With three returning competitors, an untold number of newcomers and at least two second-generation “bee” participants, outperforming the top spellers from 27 Catholic elementary...