Catholic Education Week is an annual celebration of Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools. Almost 600,000 students are educated in approximately 1500 Catholic schools by 45,000 members of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association. This year Catholic Education Week takes on particular significance because the Holy Father, Pope Francis has recognized Ontario’s celebration of Catholic schools and has extended a special blessing for the first ever Catholic Education Week province-wide Mass.
Pope Francis Recognizes Ontario’s Catholic Education Week Celebration!
A special letter of request written to the Holy Father on behalf of the provincial OSTA-AECO Catholic Board Council by Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board Student, Madeline Ellepola and York Catholic District School Board student, Michael Pallotto, has received a positive response.
Student trustees, Madeline Ellepola (Windsor-Essex CDSB) and Michael Pallotto (York CDSB) holding one of the rosaries and the picture of Pope Francis that they received from the Vatican.
Pope Francis responded through the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Archbishop Cardinal Thomas Collins:
“His Holiness Pope Francis sends warm greetings to you, your brothers Bishops, the priests, staff and students as you celebrate the Eucharist simultaneously across the province during Catholic Education Week…”
The full message can be read here and will be shared at all province-wide celebrations of the Eucharist planned for May 7th at school boards and parishes across Ontario. See below links to video messages from Ontario’s bishops.
Catholic Education Week Video Messages from Ontario’s Catholic Bishops
Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto
Most Rev. Jean-Louis Plouffe, Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie
Most Rev. Brendan O’Brien, Archbishop of Kingston
Most Rev. Fred Colli, Bishop of Thunder Bay
Most Rev. Ronald Fabbro, CSB, Bishop of London
Most Rev. Gerard Bergie, Bishop of St. Catharines
Most Rev. Bishop Crosby, The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton
Catholic Education Week Activities:
Many activities are planned for Catholic Education Week across Ontario. Following are links to this year’s events at Ontario’s Catholic District School Boards:
Peterborough Victoria Northumberland & Clarington CDSB
Renfrew County Catholic District School Board
St. Clair Catholic District School Board
Toronto Catholic District School Board
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