Pilgrims of Hope: PVNC Catholic Schools Celebrate Catholic Education Week (May 4-9, 2025)
Apr. 28, 2025
During the week of May 4-9, 2025, the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board will celebrate the significant contributions that Catholic education has made to our community, province, and country.
Our Catholic Graduate Expectations continue to challenge students to express the core values that form the foundation of Catholic education in society.
“Catholic Education Week is a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the students, staff and families who bring our faith to life each day. This year’s theme, Pilgrims of Hope, invites us to reflect on how our faith inspires us to walk with compassion, courage and a deep sense of purpose,” said Kevin MacKenzie, Board Chair.
In a video address to all students, staff and families, Bishop Daniel Miehm reflects on the importance of Catholic Education Week.
“There’s so much in this theme, Pilgrims of Hope, that aligns with our experience in publicly funded Catholic education. We are moving towards a goal as we prepare young people to meet the challenges of the future,” said Bishop Miehm. “We travel together as we seek to work in harmony to build up a more just and caring society and, of course, we have our faith and trust in God which underpins everything we do and is always the basis for our hope.”
The theme for this year’s Catholic Education Week is:
Catholic Education: Pilgrims of Hope
L’éducation catholique: Pèlerins de l’espérance
The theme for Catholic Education Week 2025 was inspired by the following considerations:
- In February of 2022, Pope Francis announced that the theme for the upcoming 2025 Holy Year would be “Pilgrims of Hope.” “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given to us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.
- The Holy Father asks us to focus prayerfully on the bonds that unite our whole human family, to reflect on the rampant poverty in our world, and to think about the plight of the many refugees forced to leave their homes. He also summons us, as stewards of Creation, “to contemplate the beauty of creation and care for our common home.”
- A pilgrimage is a spiritual journey of movement toward a goal, often lived together with others – and that certainly describes Catholic education. Hope – one of the three theological virtues – is grounded in our Easter faith in Jesus’ resurrection and renewal; this is what enables us to be builders, dreamers and leaders in Jesus’ name. Pope Francis invites us to keep moving ahead in faith, in joy, and in hope, as part of a pilgrim people. Even in challenging times, our eyes are focused on the future.
The five sub themes for Catholic Education week explore ways to live out Pope Francis’ call for each one of us to be Pilgrims of Hope:
Day 1: by honouring human dignity / honorent la dignité humaine
Day 2: by caring for creation / prennent soin de la création
Day 3: by responding to the poverties in our world / luttent contre les pauvretés
Day 4: by serving in solidarity / servent en solidarité
Day 5: by living as peacemakers / vivent en artisans de paix
Catholic Education Week is marked by special activities at all grade levels, including prayer celebrations and service activities. PVNC Catholic will host its annual Catholic Student Leadership Awards night at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough on Wednesday, May 7 at 7 p.m.