Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Week
We are pleased to celebrate Catholic Education Week on October 18 - 24, 2025.
On Thursday, October 23, we will be wearing blue to show our support for Catholic Education
"We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain." - Hebrews 6: 18-19
Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories
Catholic Education Week – October 18 – 24, 2025
“Anchored in Christ, Beacon of Hope”
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
From the heart of God’s loving providence flows the great gift of Catholic education—a gift entrusted to the Church and cherished across our communities in Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon. At the very center of this gift stands the person of Jesus Christ, our hope and our anchor, who draws near to each student, calling them into a personal and transforming relationship with Himself.
The passage from the Letter to the Hebrews invites us to anchor our lives in Christ, who alone offers a hope that is "sure and steadfast"—a hope that reaches beyond our limitations and draws us into the very presence of God. This year’s Catholic Education Week theme, “Anchored in Christ, Beacon of Hope,” reflects the vocation of Catholic schools to be places where students not only encounter this hope but are formed to share it as radiant witnesses in the world.
Hope in Christ takes root in the home, where children first learn the Faith through the witness of their parents. It is nurtured in the life of the parish, where families gather around the altar and are sustained by Word and Sacrament. And it is cultivated in Catholic schools, where educators, clergy, trustees, and families form a sacred partnership in shaping minds and hearts in the truth and love of Christ.
In these times of uncertainty and rapid cultural change, our young people need more than optimism—they need hope founded in Christ. Catholic education offers more than academic excellence; it offers formation in discipleship. In every classroom, library, playground, and staff room, we are called to bear witness to Christ, to teach as He taught, and to lead others to the deep peace that only He can give.
We, the Catholic Bishops of Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon, offer our prayers and profound thanks to all who serve the mission of Catholic education: students, parents, teachers, educational assistants, support staff, school leaders, trustees, and parish clergy. Your fidelity, courage, and love make it possible for our schools to remain steadfast in identity and luminous in hope.
Let us go forward together, anchored in Christ and radiant with hope. May our words and actions always reflect the faith we profess, and may our schools continue to be places where Christ is known, loved, and proclaimed with joy.
Yours in Christ,
Catholic Bishops of Alberta, Northwest Territories and Yukon
Most Reverend William McGrattan
Alberta Liaison Bishop for Catholic Education
Bishop of Calgary
Most Reverend Gerard Pettipas, CSsR
Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan
Most Reverend David Motiuk
Bishop of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Edmonton
Most Reverend Charles Duval, CSsR
Coadjutor Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan
Most Reverend Jon Hansen, CSsR
Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith
Most Reverend Gary Franken
Bishop of St. Paul
Most Reverend Hector Vila
Bishop of Whitehorse
Reverend Paul Kavanagh
Archdiocesan Administrator
Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
Click here for a PDF copy of the letter in English.
Cliquez ici pour une copie PDF de la lettre en français.
World Catholic Education Day
Every year, 40 days after Easter on Ascension Thursday, Catholics across the globe give thanks for the gift that is Catholic education through the celebration of World Catholic Education Day.
Catholic education has served nations for centuries through teaching students in their faith. Throughout Canada, provinces, territories, and dioceses dedicate special days or weeks to celebrate Catholic education. In keeping with these celebrations, World Catholic Education Day is a time for Catholics around the world to take a moment to pause, reflect and pray on the gift that is Catholic education.
This year World Catholic Education Day will be on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
We are wearing blue!
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.