St. Cecilia Community Messenger
Oct 21-25, 2024
Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Sunday/Catholic Education Week
History:
Catholic Education Sunday and Catholic Education Week, formerly observed separately, will be celebrated together starting October 2024. Traditionally, the first Sunday in November marked the celebration of Catholic Education Sunday, while Catholic Education Week took place in May, coinciding with World Catholic Education Day. However, recognizing the importance of a unified approach, a movement emerged to merge these events. Consequently, it was agreed that both Catholic Education Sunday and Week would be consolidated into a single, impactful celebration held during the third week of October. Commencing with Catholic Education Sunday, this week-long celebration culminates with a special activity led by Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association (ACSTA), The Council of Catholic Superintendents of Alberta (CCSSA), and the Grateful Advocates for Catholic Education (GrACE), dedicated to honoring the profound impact of Catholic education.
Why wear blue to celebrate?
Blue symbolizes constancy, fidelity, genuineness, and aspiration, with a special association with the Blessed Virgin Mary. As October is traditionally recognized as the month of the rosary, it is fitting to adorn blue attire during Catholic Education Week. This serves as a visible celebration of publicly funded Catholic schools in Alberta and across Canada, honoring their invaluable contribution to education and faith formation.
When do we wear blue? Catholic Education Week/World Catholic Education Day (May)
During Catholic Education Week, expressing solidarity through wearing blue attire is encouraged. While you're free to sport blue any day of the week, your school division likely designates a specific day, often Thursday, for this purpose. Additionally, on World Catholic Education Day in May, marked on Ascension Thursday, wearing blue becomes a formal gesture of support. This day, occurring 40 days after Easter, holds particular significance as a global celebration of Catholic education.
