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TO ”S 5 . 3? O 05 X i o ^GQ E?o r><a: Sou ☆ Diocese of, Savannah Vol. 80, No. 4 ☆ hem (ross isso $.50 PER ISSUE Thursday, January 27, 2000 Catholic Schools Week to be celebrated Contents Headline Hopscotch 3 News 3 Commentary 4-5 Catholic Schools 6-7 Faith Alive! 3-9 Notices 10-11 Last But Not Least 12 Special tribute to Sister Mary Frances Sobczak, CDP—page 4 January 30-February 5 By Barbara Keebler and Carolyn Stratford Washington 4 4^-^atholic Schools: Lighting the Way to a New V^Century” is the theme for the 26th annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week (CSW), Janu ary 30-February 5. The event is part of the National Marketing Campaign for Catholic Schools, a joint program of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) and the United States Catholic Conference (USCC). This year’s logo features a bright starburst shooting over the earth. A cross is the nucleus of the design. “Recent themes for the national campaign and Catholic Schools Week have focused on the Catholic foundation of our schools, from which all else flows — a curriculum infused with values, high academic standards and discipline,” said Leonard DeFiore, NCEA president. Sister Lourdes Sheehan, RSM, USCC secretary for education and a Savannah native, said that the “lighting the way to a new century” theme has a special message for parents. “Catholic schools do provide a ‘guiding light’ for parents who are increasingly concerned that character and values education play a key role in the curriculum.” The purpose of Catholic Schools Week is to build support and recognition for the over 8,200 Catholic schools nationwide. During this week, many dioce ses encourage parents to enroll their children in Catholic schools. CSW also is an opportunity to interest citizens in volunteering their time and tal to a New Century ents to local Catholic schools. National Appreciation Day: February 2 National Appreciation Day falls on the Wednesday of Catholic Schools Week. This day was established to encourage supporters nationwide to showcase the great accomplishments and contri butions of Catholic schools to our country. In Washington, a delegation of over 100 Catholic school students, teachers and parents will visit Capitol Hill on Wednesday, February 2 to meet with congressional leaders to promote Catholic schools. As part of their marathon day, they will hand-deliver letters from chief administrators of Catholic education to their representatives and pro vide a background package on Catholic schools to every congressional office. Across the country, diocesan and school leaders also meet with civic officials on this day. Governors, big city mayors, and small town coun cils have joined in to proclaim “National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools” in their localities year after year. On this day in particular, advocates are urged to wear a “Faith for a Brighter Future” button to show their support. The National Marketing Campaign for Catholic Schools was established by USCC and NCEA to promote Catholic schools year round. Thus the “lighting the way to a new century” theme and logo advancing Catholic education is used daily, not only during Catholic Schools Week. Now in its tenth year, the marketing effort was launched to help create awareness of the value of a Catholic education and to increase enrollment. Family Circus returns The campaign also features an illustration from well-known Family Circus cartoonist Bil Keane. Fifth in a series, the design depicts Billy and Dolly in a classroom where an angel hovers above. It is titled “School Spirit.” Campaign materials provide schools with a “turn key” package for marketing and include buttons, posters, banners and billboards. Products ranging (Continued on page 11) Cardinal says pro-life cause strengthens American freedom Sarah Hughett, 16, Megan Kelly, 17, and Kelley Rounds, 17, all from Roncalli Catholic High in Indianapolis, sing during the January 23 vigil at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception before the next day's March for Life. Washington (CNS) O n the eve of the annual March for Life, Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore told a crowd of pro-life Catholics estimated at 7,000 that their cause is strengthening American freedom. “By promoting the Gospel of life with conviction, with compassion, and, yes, with extraordinary persever ance, you strengthen the foundation of our American house of freedom,” he said in his homily at a standing- room-only Mass January 23 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washing ton. “The cause we serve continues to be the great civil rights issue of our time,” said Cardinal Keeler, principal celebrant of the Mass and chairman of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. “In defending the right to life of every person from conception until the time of natural death, we defend the first of those rights upon which the founders of our country built our national claim to independence,” he said. “In proclaiming the culture of life in which every child is welcomed in life and protected in law, we chal lenge our nation to renew the great promise of its founding.” The evening Mass opened the (Continued on page 3)