GrACE Newsletter

During Catholic Education Week 2026, Catholic school communities across Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Yukon came together in a joyful and visible witness of faith, hope, prayer, service, and Catholic identity.

Throughout classrooms, chapels, gymnasiums, parishes, and communities, students, educators, clergy, trustees, families, and parish communities publicly celebrated the gift and mission of Catholic education.

Under this year’s theme — Anchored in Christ, A Beacon of Hope — Catholic education was not merely spoken about. It was visibly lived.

“Faith is alive in our classrooms.

Catholic education is lived daily through prayer, learning, service, and joyful witness.

Catholic Education Week 2026 reminded communities across Alberta and the North that Catholic education is far more than academics alone. Across classrooms, chapels, gymnasiums, parishes, and school communities, students encountered Christ through learning, service, prayer, witness, and joyful celebration.

From “Wear Blue Day” celebrations to school liturgies and acts of service, Catholic schools demonstrated that faith remains alive, visible, and deeply rooted within Alberta’s publicly funded Catholic education system.

This inspiring Catholic Education Week video from Calgary Catholic School District beautifully captures the spirit of this year’s theme, Anchored in Christ, A Beacon of Hope.

Through prayer, joyful witness, service, liturgy, and visible Catholic identity, Calgary Catholic students, educators, clergy, and families offer a powerful reminder that Catholic education is far more than academics alone — it is a living mission rooted in Christ and lived daily within our schools and communities.

The video reflects the joy, faith, and hope alive across Catholic education today.

Under this year’s theme: Anchored in Christ, A Beacon of Hope, students, educators, clergy, trustees, chaplains, families, and parish communities publicly celebrated the gift and mission of Catholic education through:

Prayer

School liturgies, Living Rosaries, Marian devotion, and Eucharistic celebrations brought Catholic communities together in prayer throughout the week.

Witness

Students and staff publicly celebrated Catholic education through visible acts of faith, leadership, and joyful community participation.

Service

Catholic schools across Alberta and the North reflected the Gospel through outreach initiatives, compassion, and faith in action.

Community

Families, clergy, trustees, chaplains, and parish communities united visibly in support of Catholic education and its enduring mission.

Throughout Catholic Education Week 2026, Catholic education was not simply discussed — it was visibly lived within classrooms, chapels, gymnasiums, hallways, playgrounds, parishes, and communities.

Across our Catholic jurisdictions, students gathered in prayer, communities united in faith, and schools publicly witnessed to Christ-centered education rooted in hope, discipleship, and joyful Catholic identity.

Catholic education is not simply a system we administer — it is a mission we inherit, protect, and proclaim.

Blessings and much love.

'Jesus, I trust in You'!

Kate

Executive Director | GrACE

These joyful images from Edmonton Catholic Schools beautifully capture Catholic education lived visibly and authentically during Catholic Education Week 2026.

Through prayer, joyful participation, “Wear Blue” celebrations, and visible witness, students and staff across Edmonton Catholic Schools demonstrated that faith remains alive within our classrooms, schools, and communities.

These moments reflect far more than school spirit — they reflect Catholic identity, community, discipleship, and the enduring mission of Catholic education formed in Christ and lived daily in hope.

This month’s GrACE Champions offer a clear and compelling witness of Catholic education lived authentically within our schools.

Across Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Yukon, students, educators, clergy, school leaders, trustees, families, and parish communities publicly celebrated Catholic Education Week 2026 through prayer, service, liturgy, faith formation, and joyful public witness.

This year’s theme: Anchored in Christ, A Beacon of Hope was not simply displayed on banners or posters — it was lived visibly within classrooms, chapels, gymnasiums, hallways, playgrounds, and parish communities.

Throughout Catholic Education Week, Catholic school communities witnessed to:

• Christ-centered education,
• visible Catholic identity,
• faith permeation,
• student leadership,
• prayerful community life,
• and service rooted in the Gospel.

From students publicly wearing blue in celebration of Catholic education, to school liturgies, Marian devotion, classroom prayer, service initiatives, Eucharistic celebrations, and faith-filled community gatherings, Catholic schools across our jurisdictions demonstrated that Catholic education remains vibrant, mission-driven, and deeply rooted in hope.

This month’s GrACE Champions remind us that Catholic education is not merely an educational structure — it is a living mission entrusted to our communities and carried forward daily through faith-filled witness.

Their joyful participation, leadership, and visible commitment to Catholic identity continue to strengthen and inspire Catholic education across Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Yukon.

Catholic education is alive.

And through the witness of our GrACE Champions, that light continues to shine brightly within our schools and communities.

Across Elk Island Catholic Schools, students, staff, families, and school communities participated visibly and joyfully in the “Wear Blue for Catholic Education” movement during Catholic Education Week 2026.

Classrooms, hallways, chapels, learning spaces, and school communities throughout the division became visible signs of unity, witness, and gratitude for the gift of publicly funded Catholic education.

More than a colour campaign, “Wear Blue” has become a shared public expression of Catholic identity, solidarity, and mission across Alberta Catholic education communities — reminding students that faith is not something hidden or private, but something lived openly, joyfully, and together.

Through prayer celebrations, faith formation activities, leadership initiatives, service opportunities, and visible public witness, Elk Island Catholic Schools continues to demonstrate that Catholic education remains deeply alive in the lives of young people and the communities that support them.

Faith is alive. And our students are the proof.

Throughout the month of May, Elk Island Catholic Schools publicly celebrated Catholic Education Week and the Month of Mary through Living Rosaries, Marian classroom visits, student-led prayer, and faith-filled community gatherings.

Across the division, students, staff, clergy, and families came together in prayerful witness, visibly entrusting their schools and communities to the Blessed Mother. These celebrations reflected a joyful and authentic expression of Catholic identity rooted in prayer, discipleship, and encounter with Christ.

Students across Elk Island Catholic Schools participated in powerful Living Rosary celebrations during Catholic Education Week 2026, gathering together in prayer within gymnasiums and school communities.

The Living Rosary became a visible witness of faith, unity, and Marian devotion, drawing students into deeper reflection, leadership, and participation in the spiritual life of the school. These moments demonstrated Catholic education lived visibly and joyfully within everyday school life.

During Catholic Education Week 2026, the Calgary Catholic Education Foundation highlighted the KARA program as a visible example of Catholic faith lived through compassion, dignity, and community support. Catholic communities came together to provide practical assistance, encouragement, and hope to young mothers and families through donations, outreach, and accompaniment.

The initiative reflected Catholic social teaching in action and demonstrated how Catholic education continues to form communities rooted not only in learning, but in service, mercy, and the dignity of every human person.

Make Catholic education visible, faithful, and unmistakably alive in our communities.

Begin with Prayer

Root everything in prayer.

Share Catholic education intentions within your schools, parishes, and families. Invite your community to pray intentionally—for students, educators, and the mission entrusted to us.

Make Catholic Education Visible

Design and share Catholic education features in your parish bulletins and school newsletters.

Use images, stories, and clear messaging to ensure that Catholic education is not hidden—but seen, understood, and valued.

Tell the Story with Clarity and Confidence

Use pictures, statistics, and meaningful quotes to paint a clear picture of your school or division.

Help others see not only what Catholic education is—but why it matters.

Engage the Wider Community

Reach beyond your immediate circles.

Contact local media and invite them to tell the story of Catholic education. Share the impact, the mission, and the difference Catholic schools are making.

Share the Voice of the Bishops

Distribute the Catholic Bishops of Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon’s pastoral letter for Catholic Education Week.

Let the voice of the Church be heard clearly and widely.

Be Present in the Life of the Parish

Be visible at Mass.

Share information about your Catholic schools and invite parishioners to engage with and support Catholic education. Strengthen the living connection between parish, home, and school.

Amplify Authentic Voices

Invite a student, parent, teacher, trustee, and priest to share their perspective:

“Why I choose Catholic Education.”

Record and share these testimonies through your websites and social media. Authentic witness speaks louder than explanation.

Show Faith in Action

Share images that highlight the lived reality of faith in your schools and communities—prayer, service, liturgy, and daily witness.

Let people see Catholic education as it truly is.

Gather and Share Stories

Collect stories of Catholic education from across your community.

Stories reveal the impact of this mission in ways that statistics alone cannot.

Honour the Legacy

Tell the story of your Catholic school division.

Share its history, its foundations, and the generations it has formed.

What we remember, we value.
What we value, we protect.

Use these opportunities as moments to witness.

Be visible.
Be faithful.
Be clear.

Catholic education will endure only if it is lived, protected, and proclaimed—clearly and without compromise. The responsibility is now ours.