By Susie Gibbons

As superintendent, I have the honor and privilege of working with Catholic school leaders throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati every day of the year. I also have the opportunity to visit 105 Catholic schools, throughout the expansive geographical footprint of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Our schools come in all shapes and sizes. If you think one Catholic school is the same as every other, then you might be surprised to learn about the unique and incredible qualities of our
schools. Each school is special because of the children, parents, staffs, leaders, pastors and communities surrounding and supporting them.

However, one obvious identifying quality abundantly present in all of our schools is our Catholic faith.

From start to finish, Catholicism is embedded in every aspect of our schools. It is obvious upon entering the buildings that our schools are not just places for learning. They are clearly institutions witnessing and passing on of our Catholic faith and values to every student.

Catholic schools are so much more than bricks and mortar. They are institutions planting seeds, nurturing students daily so they blossom into adults who will also pass on the gift of faith, leading by example and action. Our students meet the challenges of our world with faith embedded in their hearts. They can then act with intellectual integrity and maturity in a changing and complex world.

We celebrate Catholic schools not because they exist, but because they plant seeds that blossom and grow into futures, for this life and the next!

Thank you to all who support and nurture the lives of our children who attend our Catholic schools. Your dedication and care make a profound difference in their lives and on their hearts.

Happy Catholic Schools Week! Celebrate with those whose lives you nurture and enrich.