It's Catholic Schools Week!

This week we celebrate Catholic Schools. Our own St. Mary's School opened it's doors way back in 1913. I recall when I was here before, During one of the liturgies, Msgr. Schwartz had asked for a show of hands of alumni. The greater part of the congregation raised their hands. Today we have less of the 'native born DeKalb-ers' in the parish, but the fact is that our grade school has been a major part of our parish.

In the beginning the catholic school was so as to maintain the faith, and to remove Catholic children from a hostile environment. Catholics were not treated well in the early part of our nation. Over time they became that bridge of the immigrant children into a new culture. As the suburbs took root in the fifties, it was advised that the parish build the school first, then the church building at a later time. Hence we have a lot of these gym/churches in so many parishes of that era.

The catholic schools continue to be academic high achievers. In standardized tests, the catholic schools will normally out-score the local public school system. To be sure religion is a big part of the curriculum, but there is also an environment that is geared towards learning, respect, responsibility, and stewardship. It is these elements that consistently set the catholic schools apart. This is especially important in a technologically changing world.