The Diocese of Allentown joined in the celebration of National Catholic Schools Week Jan. 29-Feb. 4, taking time to reflect on the dedication of the Church to provide a solid educational foundation for many.

“On behalf of the staff of the Secretariat of Evangelization, Education and Formation, I join you in celebrating all that is good in Catholic education and thank you, along with our educators, priests, parents and students, for your ongoing commitment to Catholic education,” Philip J. Fromuth, superintendent of the Allentown Catholic Schools, said in a Diocese of Allentown release. “We are so blessed by the dedicated service to the Church of so many that allows for the faith formation and academic growth of our students. Their service is a gift to the Church, and we are so grateful to all involved in the ministry of Catholic education in the Diocese of Allentown.” 

The theme for this year’s National Catholic Schools Week was “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service,” the National Catholic Educational Association’s website said. 

The week-long celebration of Catholic education in the United States has been observed since 1974, the website said. It begins on the final Sunday of January and lasts one week. The annual celebration typically features special Masses, open houses and other events for students, families, parishioners and the community. During these events, schools highlight the impact that Catholic education has on young people, communities and the nation as a whole. 

There are more than 1.6 million students and 146,000 instructors from nearly 6,000 Catholic schools around the U.S. 

Fromuth wrote a special message to the Diocese’s Catholic school teachers, students and parents. 

"We have so much to be proud of in the 36 schools in the Diocese of Allentown that serve almost 9,000 students and are staffed by 700 full and part-time dedicated educators,” he said in the release. 

Fromuth also noted that the diocese’s schools offer a rigorous curriculum that has resulted in commendable standardized test scores, even through the pandemic, and a high percentage of students who go to college.

“Most importantly, we teach authentic Catholic doctrine and values that provide for the development of our students, not only as scholars, but as people of faith,” he said. “This atmosphere forms centers of academic excellence where our Faith is taught, experienced, and lived on a daily basis.”