Jan. 28 through Feb. 3 is the annual observance of Catholic
Schools Week. For three decades this time has been set aside each
year to highlight the work of Roman Catholic educational
institutions throughout the United States.
Jan. 28 through Feb. 3 is the annual observance of Catholic Schools Week. For three decades this time has been set aside each year to highlight the work of Roman Catholic educational institutions throughout the United States.
The Catholic Church has the country’s largest system of nonpublic schools. In reaction to a perception that the U.S. public schools were dominated by Protestants, Bishops met in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1884 and directed local churches to establish elementary schools for the education of parish children (hence the term “parochial” schools). Later, secondary schools were established by dioceses, religious orders or groups of parishes.
According to figures released by the National Catholic Educational Association, there are now 2.4 million students enrolled in 6,386 elementary and 1,203 secondary schools. Approximately 14 percent of these students are non-Catholic.
These schools employ some 153,000 professional staff. Although earlier in the century the overwhelming majority of staff consisted of religious brothers and sisters, today 95 percent are lay people due to the long decline in the number of religious brothers, sisters and priests.
The Diocese of San Jose, which includes all of Santa Clara County, includes 31 elementary and six secondary schools. Total enrollment is approximately 16,000 students. There has been discussion of building a new elementary school in Gilroy’s northwest area and a new high school in the area between Morgan Hill and Coyote, but no definite construction dates have been set.
South County has two thriving Catholic elementary schools.
Gilroy’s St. Mary School was established in 1871. Founded by Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Presentation Sisters replaced them and continued to operate the school until 1981 when an all lay staff operated the school.
The present school building opened in 1953 and has been expanded with more classrooms, a computer lab and science center. It is located at First and Church streets under the leadership of Father Dan Derry, St. Mary’s pastor and Principal Christa Hanson.
Special events planned for this week include an open house on Saturday (3-4:30pm), followed by a special liturgy at 5pm honoring a graduate and a staff member, another Open House on Tuesday from 10:45am-noon, and a Spirit Rally and 135th Anniversary Celebration on Friday morning. For more information call (408) 842-2827 or visit www.stmarygilroy.org.
Morgan Hill’s St. Catherine of Alexandria School (17400 Peak Avenue) was founded under the direction of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1963 and is now under the leadership of Father Gene O’Donnell, pastor, and Principal Fabienne Esparza. In addition to academic curriculum, it offers a variety of religious, social and athletic events.
Special events for this week include a Catholic Schools Week liturgy at 10:30am led by St. Catherine students on Sunday, classroom tours on Tuesday from 8:30am-2pm, Grandparents/Special Person Day on Thursday and a Spaghetti Dinner on Friday at 5:30pm. For more information call (408) 779-9950 or visit www.stcatherinemh.org.
