Catholic Education Week – May 25-30

We pray as a diocesan family that Catholic schools in our diocese and around the world will be blessed with faithful teachers and abundant resources, in order that the Gospel might be proclaimed to the ends of the Earth.

(Catholic Education Week May 25-30, World Catholic Education Day May 29, 2025)

Catholic Education Week 2025 in Saskatchewan begins on Sunday, May 25, 2025. The Catholic schools in our diocese will engage in a series of events to celebrate the ongoing gift of publicly funded Catholic education. The current generation of students in our publicly funded Catholic schools will serve with the same spirit and generosity as their previous generations. This year’s Catholic Education Week theme is, “Pilgrims of Hope.” A pilgrimage is a spiritual journey of movement toward a goal, often lived together with others – and that certainly describes Catholic education. Hope – one of the three theological virtues – is grounded in our Easter faith in Jesus’ resurrection and renewal; this is what enables us to be builders, dreamers and leaders in Jesus’ name.”

“We must fan the flame hope that has been given to us.” – Pope Francis.

Prayer for Catholic Education Week 2025 from the Saskatchewan Catholic School Boards Association  https://www.scsba.ca/.  Please join in praying for our Catholic schools:

Hope is our calling, O Lord, and the destination of our pilgrim journeys. As we mark this Jubilee Year of hope, keep our eyes focussed on Jesus, and on the hope he reveals to us. May our hope lead us to love genuinely and to live generously. In the dignity of every human being, may we honour your presence. In our stewardship of creation, may we care for your creatures, large and small. As we strive to respond to the poverties of our world, may we be bearers of your compassion. As we live as people of solidarity, may we help to heal the divisions of our world. In our lives as peacemakers, may we share the “Shalom” which is your gift to all people. Hope is the flame that has been entrusted to us; may we keep it burning brightly, to enlighten the path of our pilgrim journey. All our hope is in you, O God, in the name of Jesus our Lord and companion. Amen

A message released by the Catholic Bishops of Saskatchewan for Catholic Education Week May 25 to 31 reflects on the impact of Catholic education on students, families, communities, and the world – LINK.

“In joy and thanksgiving, we, the Catholic Bishops of Saskatchewan, invite you to join us in recognizing the gift and the impact of Catholic education as we mark World Catholic Education Day on May 29, 2025, and celebrate Catholic Education Week in our province,” says the message signed by Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon,  Bishop Michael Smolinksi of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon, Bishop Stephen Hero of Prince Albert, and Archbishop Donald Bolen of Regina.

“May Catholic education continue to model Christ: ‘… the Way, the Truth and the Life.’ (John 14:16)” states the bishops’ message, inviting the faithful to “pray in thanksgiving for the continuing existence and protection of publicly-funded Catholic education in Saskatchewan, and for hope and perseverance for educators, students and families.”

Across the globe, the World Day of Catholic Education is marked on Ascension Thursday, which this year falls on Thursday, May 29, 2005. And each year, in conjunction with World Catholic Education Day, the Catholic school divisions in Saskatchewan engage in a week-long celebration of the unique identity and distinctive contributions of Catholic education. This year’s theme for Catholic Education Week is “Pilgrims of Hope” echoing the theme of the Jubilee Year proclaimed in 2025.

The five sub-themes for Catholic Education Week: Pilgrims of Hope are:

• By honouring human dignity / Honorent la dignité humaine
• By caring for creation / Prennent soin de la création
• By responding to the poverties in our world / Luttent contre les pauvretés
• By serving in solidarity / Servant en solidarité
• By living as peacemakers / Vivent en artisans de paix

“Hope – one of the three theological virtues – is grounded in our Easter faith in Jesus’ resurrection and renewal; this is what enables us to be builders, dreamers and leaders in Jesus’ name.” – Catholic Education Week resources