Happy Catholic Schools Week!

This week we celebrate the gift of Catholic education that is given to so many children throughout the U.S., including those students in the seven elementary schools and one high school that are part of our Redemptorist parishes.

During this Neumann Year, we’re especially grateful to God for the contributions of St. John Neumann to the parish school system in this country. "We will spare no effort in the establishment of a solid, Catholic school in every parish to guarantee, as best we can, that the gift of the faith continues into future generations," Neumann wrote. And he backed up those words with actions — as bishop of Philadelphia he established schools at almost the same rate as parishes.

To the pastors in his diocese, Neumann wrote, "In order that our parochial schools may truly produce Christian virtue it is necessary that the children advance in the knowledge and love of God at least with equal pace as in the knowledge of human sciences." To ensure that, Neumann invited several orders of religious sisters to his diocese, and founded the Sisters of St. Francis of Glen Riddle.

Congratulations to all our Catholic Schools! And St. John Neumann, pray for us!

For more information about the Neumann Year, visit redemptorists.net/neumann.