Catholic school students, teachers, and communities throughout the 19-county Archdiocese of Cincinnati will be celebrating the 52nd annual Catholic Schools Week from January 25 through January 31 under the theme, “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.” The 111 Catholic elementary and high schools in the archdiocese will mark the week with special programs, such as open houses, out-of-uniform days, service projects, Masses, talent shows, special decorations, student-faculty games and entertainment. Catholic Schools Week is an opportunity to celebrate the distinguished history of excellence of our Catholic schools and to pray for God’s blessings upon our school communities.

Monday: Archbishop Robert G. Casey will continue the tradition of a teleconference conversation with high school students in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. All 24 Catholic high schools will be given the opportunity to ask questions to Archbishop Casey during a live broadcast. The teleconference will be broadcasted live at each of the high schools and social media channels, including the Catholic Schools and Archdiocese of Cincinnati Facebook pages as well at the Archdiocese of Cincinnati YouTube page. (In the event that Elder High School is closed because of inclement weather, the broadcast will likely be rescheduled.)

Tuesday: The annual Catholic Schools Week Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains is at 10 A.M. Archbishop Robert G. Casey will celebrate the Mass with more than a dozen priests expected to concelebrate. Students from more than 75 Catholic schools in the Cincinnati area are invited. As tradition, a parade of banners representing each school present will take place at 9:40 A.M., before the Mass begins. Media members are invited to attend the Mass.

Wednesday: The annual Catholic Schools Week Mass near Dayton will be at St. Luke Church in Beavercreek 10 A.M. Archbishop Robert G. Casey will celebrate the Mass with other priests concelebrating. Schools in the greater Dayton area will be represented with their attendance and through serving in the liturgy. Media members are invited to attend the Mass.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 45th largest Catholic diocese in the country, with nearly 440,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with more than 41,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 199 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 111 Catholic primary and secondary schools.