National Catholic Schools Week celebrations throughout the Denver Province provided opportunities to showcase the benefits of a Catholic education: academic excellence intentionally directed to the growth of the whole person – mind, body and spirit – and an emphasis on service to others that helps form a new generation that shares gospel values and elevates our entire society.
“Schools require a constant presence and ongoing dedication,” explained Fr. Tat Hoang, pastor of St. Gerard Parish in Baton Rouge. Redemptorist St. Gerard School is an integral part of his ministry.
“We realize that providing a Catholic education is really God’s mission. Our students pray daily and participate in Mass on Fridays for faith formation, but we’re always looking for more volunteers because it really does take a whole village to provide a quality education. We’re always recruiting more volunteers from our large alumni group and our Circle of Redemptorist Associates. It absolutely takes a whole village to properly educate our children.”
Fr. Tat is focused on ensuring the future of Redemptorist St. Gerard School, one of only two parochial schools that still serve primarily African American and low income families. He is looking forward to hosting the second annual “Messengers of Hope” gala sponsored by John Folse, a world-renowned executive chef who owns and operates the exclusive White Oak Estate Gardens.
Fr. Tat is hoping to meet or exceed the success of the inaugural event, which brought in more than $100,000 to support the school.
Monica Ellerbusch, RSM, principal of St. Alphonsus School in New Orleans, believes it is a true blessing to share in ministry to God’s precious children. She was grateful for the opportunity to showcase the talent of her Choir students, who kicked off Catholic Schools Week with a performance at Lakeside Mall.
The faith community at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Whittier, CA, is celebrating the 100th anniversary of St. Mary School. Current enrollment is 220 students in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade, 90 percent of whom are Latino.
Principal Maria Isabel Ortiz Dominguez planned a full week of activities to celebrate the milestone anniversary. In addition to a special Mass and a Car Show featuring vehicles from different eras, school staff provided coffee and donuts to parents as they dropped off students for Parent Appreciation Day, and the eighth graders organized a talent show for Student Appreciation Day.
We are grateful to share a peek into a few of the schools associated with our parishes in the Denver Province that are focused on providing a quality education as they instill strong Catholic values in the next generation.