Each day is a celebration of educating the mind, body and spirit at Catholic Schools throughout the Diocese of Venice.
A more public celebration will occur the week of Jan. 26, to Feb. 1, 2025, when Diocesan schools will participate in a series of exciting activities as part of the 51st annual National Catholic Schools Week.
Sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), the week provides an annual opportunity to share the good news about Catholic Schools. The theme, “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community,” focuses on the important spiritual, academic, and societal contributions provided by a Catholic education firmly rooted in the Truth of the Gospel.
Within the 15 Diocese of Venice Catholic schools, these are exciting times. In the past two years, a rapid increase in enrollment has continued; an already cutting-edge curriculum has expanded; and many schools are working on projects to expand and upgrade their campus facilities.
Schools typically observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members. On the weekend starting Catholic Schools Week, look for students to speak at Parish Masses to explain the benefits of supporting their education.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane said Diocesan Catholic Schools not only educate the mind but also the soul, teaching the students to have a concern for their brothers and sisters -whether they live in the same country, in their town, down the street, or are in their classroom – through prayer, as well as the teaching of values, morals, and virtues.
“Through this broader approach, the student begins to learn, to reach out beyond themselves, seeing that we are all made in the image and likeness of God,” Bishop Dewane said.
Catholic Schools Week 2025 promises to be bigger and better than ever, starting with the large numbers of students attending Diocesan Catholic schools, which is topping 6,500. This a 40 percent growth rate in four years. As enrollment for the 2025-2026 Academic Year ramps up, space is limited as there are waitlists in many grades.
“We have been blessed that people are choosing Diocesan Catholic schools,” said Father John Belmonte, SJ., Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Education. “Parents are finding a rigorous academic program, but more importantly, the curriculum is about training the will of each student and teaching them to make the right decisions so that they can do the good that is needed not only their families and themselves but by society.”
Each school offers a comprehensive STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, art, and math) learning model which is combined with the Diocesan curriculum called, “The Gifts of Christ: Truth, Beauty, Goodness, Affability, Fortitude, Humility, and Prudence,” creating students of good moral character equipped to succeed in the world of today. This program has a strong robotics component as well.
“We prepare our students for today and for the future,” Bishop Dewane said. “We give the students what they need for success in this challenging world. Through this initiative, we are helping students to discover who they are as men and women of faith, as they learn virtues that Christ calls us to in the Gospel.”
Catholic Schools Week 2025 will showcase many of these aspects of Catholic education within the Diocese of Venice. The 15 Diocesan Catholic schools are an investment in the future as they serve as the heart of the Diocese, building the Catholic leadership of tomorrow. Schools are in Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Ave Maria and Sebring.
For a list of public activities for Catholic Schools Week 2025, please check the nearest Diocesan Catholic school by visiting https://dioceseofvenice.org/catholicschools.
