Pittsburgh Catholic Schools receive proclamation for Catholic Schools Week

Pittsburgh City Council passed a proclamation on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, commending the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh for its commitment to excellent spiritual and academic education as it celebrates Catholic Schools Week.

The proclamation declared January 29-February 2 as Catholic Schools Week in the City of Pittsburgh. At the meeting, the document was presented to Michelle Peduto, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

“Catholic schools have been serving the Pittsburgh area for almost 200 years,” Peduto said. We are so very proud of the contributions our students and graduates have made to the city we love so much through their service. We are grateful to the city for this honor and for inspiring all of us to serve others.”

Several students from Oakland Catholic High School and Central Catholic High School attended to help mark the occasion, accompanied by their respective school presidents: Kelly Lazzara and Matthew Stoessel.

On January 25, the Diocese of Pittsburgh released its superintendent’s report for Catholic Schools, showing that schools that are thriving, with 2023 test scores exceeding national standards by wide margins. The report is available here: https://diopitt.org/schools.

The diocese has about 13,000 students in 45 schools with more than 1,000 teachers. The Catholic faith is at the heart of the school community, with students attending Mass and religion class, and all subjects taught in the light of the Gospel. All diocesan schools are accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and the diocese was one of the first in the country to have all its schools accredited.

The annual Catholic Schools Week celebration is a joint project of the NCEA and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). This year marks the 50th anniversary of the week, established in 1974 to recognize Catholic education as a great gift to the Church and the nation. Catholic schools in this country date to 1808, when St. Elizabeth Ann Seton opened her first school in Baltimore. Schools typically observe Catholic Schools Week with Masses, assemblies, service projects and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members to celebrate. More details about the national events are available at: www.ncea.org.