NOVEMBER 1
All Saint’s Day
All Saints’ Day - or Solemnity of All Saints - is a solemnity celebrated on the first of November in honor of all the saints, either known and unknown. It is the day after the feast of All Hallows’ Evening (also known as Halloween). Share your school’s observance of the day with NCEA at nceatalk@ncea.org.
NOVEMBER 2
All Souls Day
All Souls’ Day is a day to pray for all loved ones who have died. Catholics believe that through the prayers of the faithful on Earth, the dead are cleansed of their sins so they may enter into heaven.
NOVEMBER 17 - 23
DISCOVER CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
“Why is Catholic Schools Week in January? Our admissions deadlines have passed and we nearly always cancel because of snow. What gives?”
We hear you! National Catholic Schools Week (CSW) is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Now entering its 46th anniversary year, CSW has traditionally been held the last week in January.
Each year, NCEA relies on valuable feedback from Catholic schools across the country on how we might help improve your CSW experience. Year after year, we have heard your concerns. In 2016, we introduced a “year-round marketing” mentality to Catholic school communications strategy. The purpose of this mentality is to have schools take the spirit (and theme, and logo) of CSW and implement into a full year’s marketing strategy.
This year, we would like to take it another step further and introduce a second week for Catholic schools to leverage their good news in a national initiative: Discover Catholic Schools Week. This week, to be held November 17–23, 2019, is designated to help schools connect with prospective families, donors, educators and other community members. We want to help showcase what makes Catholic schools the best when families are looking to find the right school for them.
Then, from January 26 – February 1, 2020, we will still host the traditional Celebrate Catholic Schools Week. This will serve as the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Schools typically observe the week with Masses, assemblies and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members to celebrate and congratulate.
Visit www.NCEA.org/csw for daily themes for Discover AND Catholic Schools Weeks!
DECEMBER 1 - 24
Season Of Advent
Advent is the beginning of the new liturgical year and is a time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas as well as the return of Jesus at the second coming. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning “coming”.
Send this family Advent prayer home or use it in school with your students:
Dear Jesus, as we light the candle(s) on this Advent wreath, may the light of your presence bring joy to our hearts. Bless our families and our friends, and be with all those who are in need this holiday season. Amen.
DECEMBER 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception, according to the teaching of the Catholic Church, was the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne. Immaculate Conception is sometimes confused with the conception of Jesus Christ in Mary’s womb, while it refers to Mary herself. Ask your students if they know the difference.
DECEMBER 25
Christmas Day!
JANUARY 4
Feast Day of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, wife and mother, educator, foundress and first native-born American saint, pioneered work in the mission-driven ministry of Catholic school educators.
JANUARY 21
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
JANUARY 28 - 29
Many Gifts, One Nation: A Day Of Giving To Catholic Schools
More than $1,125,000 was raised from 6,289 donations to 424 schools in 112 dioceses last year.This is just one example of the strength Catholic schools hold when we work together to promote the faith-filled and academically excellent education we all have at the core of our shared mission. Visit www.NCEA.org/csw/manygifts for information about how to set up your school’s custom giving page for this national initiative.
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS JANUARY 14, 2020! www.NCEA.org/NCEA2020