Special to The Michigan Catholic | Brian M. Dougherty, Ph.D.Catholic Schools Week is our opportunity as a community to come together to celebrate the many positive points of a Catholic education and open our doors to our parents, grandparents and the parish community to come in to participate in school activities and interact with the faculty and students.
These days serve to assist you in your decision-making as you move forward in the selection of your child’s education. Many of our schools will be holding open house activities open to prospective and current students and families. I would encourage anyone reading this to “spread the word” to family and friends who might be looking for the first time or feel there is a need to change schools.
Hints for parents attending open houses and school activities: We are a Catholic school system that promotes the spiritual, mental and physical growth of all our students. We encourage parents to ask our principals how the school addresses these needs and review the curriculum and ask questions about the sports and club activities available for students. What you will discover is a well-rounded education provided in a supportive environment.
One important question for parents often tends to center on the issue of tuition, and in today’s economy, I fully understand this concern. It is essential to keep in mind what truly sets the schools of the Archdiocese of Detroit apart from public and charter schools — our Catholic identity and the foundation each child builds rooted in the teaching of Jesus and a proven record of academic success.
On Jan. 29, we will hold a special Mass for our schools at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. Many of our pastors with schools will concelebrate with Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron and Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda, director of the archdiocese’s Department of Evangelization, Catechesis and Schools. This special schools Mass features student involvement; this year, the Everest Collegiate choir will participate, and students from Marian High School will proclaim the readings. Archbishop Vigneron will present awards to schools for their Catholic identity, honor students for their community service, and recognize the winners of the archdiocese’s Catholic Schools Week poster contest.
In closing, we are looking forward to the great opportunities during Catholic Schools Week for our educators, students and families of the Archdiocese of Detroit to come together to celebrate Catholic education. Please contact your school today to get a copy of the schedule and mark your calendar. Come and discover the only schools that focus on the mind, body and spiritual development of your child.
Thank you for giving me the honor of leading our Catholic schools in this great archdiocese.
Brian M. Dougherty, Ph.D., is superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
