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Celebrating Catholic Schools Week

Byline photo of Viviana Liano
Viviana Liano, Loretto Section Editor
February 13, 2026
Sister Olive is pictured holding a plant that was given as a token of appreciation. Her vocation is celebrated at Loretto Academy and her dedication to her faith. Photo courtesy of Viviana Liano.
Sister Olive is pictured holding a plant that was given as a token of appreciation. Her vocation is celebrated at Loretto Academy and her dedication to her faith. Photo courtesy of Viviana Liano.

A tradition dating back decades, Catholic Schools Week celebrates seven components of catholic schools around the nation on each day of the week, starting the last week of January.

This last week is chosen because of the multiple education-related saints that have their feast days during the week, such as St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Angela Merici, and St. John Bosco.

Loretto is widely recognized in the El Paso community as one of the few high schools offering a prestigious Catholic education, and being part of the school is a true source of pride for students.

The beloved tradition starts on Sunday with the theme of celebrating each parish, events differing between mass and open houses because of the religious guidance and support that they provide.

On Monday, it is a celebration of the families that complete and shape the community.

Then on Tuesday, it was the celebration of the students, in which the entire school enjoyed a performance from music educator, Dr. Denine LeBlanc.

On Wednesday, vocations were celebrated, and three very important people in our community were recognized: Sister Liz, Sister Becky, Sister Olive, and Father Ken

They were recognized for living their vocation and teaching students how to live out theirs, showing them their appreciation.

As they celebrated the United States on Thursday, the school highlighted the importance of Catholic education across the country, and the students were given a free dress day to wear the colors red, white, or blue.

Also on Thursday, a mass was held for Catholic students to attend, with Bishop Seitz presiding, and was recorded to play for the Sunday Mass.

Friday celebrated and honored the faculty, staff, and volunteers who comprise the Loretto community by giving them a tasty lunch in appreciation.

To commemorate the end of the celebratory week, Saturday celebrated the community, which truly sets Loretto Academy apart from other schools.

This tradition is a national celebration that commemorates the key components of catholic education and shows appreciation to the faculty and students who truly make this community so special.

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