2024 Catholic Schools Week Supplement

Our 67 Catholic schools share a primary focus: ‘salvation of souls’

Dear Friends in Christ,

The national theme for this year’s celebration of Catholic Schools Week, “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community,” should prompt us to consider the impact our Catholic schools have on individuals, families and the larger community. Here in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, we are blessed with 67 Catholic schools throughout central and southern Indiana.

While our Catholic schools excel in several areas—such as academics, athletics, the arts and service—they are meant to serve the Church’s fundamental task of evangelization and catechesis. More notably, in recent times, there is a growing appreciation for greater emphasis on “evangelizing catechesis.”

With a primary focus on “salvation of souls,” our Catholic schools strive to form and educate individuals to be missionary disciples embracing the two-fold command to love God and neighbor. The impact of this focus is meant to transform individuals, both students and educators, families and society.

Each baptized member, as emphasized in the synodal expression of co-responsibility, is called to a life of holiness and mission. Similar to the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” it takes a community of believers to enable children, youths and adults to mature in faith. Of course, if authentic, that faith must be rooted in a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

For our Catholic schools to be effective instruments of the Church’s task of evangelization and catechesis, both students and educators must open their minds and hearts to the divine wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Such openness must necessarily be rooted in prayer, both personal and communal, the word of God, the grace of sacraments, teachings of the faith and oriented toward service.

Catholic teaching is predicated on the firm belief that one is saved only through the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is for this reason that Catholic schools are equipped with crucifixes, immersed in daily prayer and find their ultimate meaning in the celebration of the Eucharist at Mass, the source and summit of our identity and mission as Catholics.

This year’s celebration of Catholic Schools Week is further enhanced by the ongoing National Eucharist Revival and upcoming National Eucharistic Congress, to take place this summer in Indianapolis on July 17-21. As taught in each of our Catholic schools, the Eucharist is the Real Presence of Jesus Christ—Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity—which unites us to God and one another.

It is the nourishment that sustains our baptismal call to holiness and mission. It is the true source of our identity as Catholics, as children of God, as missionary disciples, as beloved sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ.

Wishing all a happy and blessed Catholic Schools Week, with assurance of my continued prayers, I remain

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Archbishop Charles C. Thompson

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