Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
From the heart of God’s loving providence flows the great gift of Catholic education, a gift entrusted to the Church and cherished across our communities in Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon. At the very centre of this gift stands the person of Jesus Christ, our hope and our anchor, who draws near to each student, calling them into a personal and transforming relationship with Himself.
“We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain. – Hebrews 6:18-19
The passage from the Letter to the Hebrews invites us to anchor our lives in Christ, who alone offers a hope that is “sure and steadfast”, a hope that reaches beyond our limitations and draws us into the very presence of God. This year’s Catholic Education Week theme, “Anchored in Christ, Beacon of Hope“, reflects the vocation of Catholic schools to be places where students not only encounter this hope but are formed to share it as radiant witnesses in the world.
Hope in Christ takes root in the home, where children first learn the Faith through the witness of their parents. It is nurtured in the life of the parish, where families gather around the altar and are sustained by Word and Sacrament. And it is cultivated in Catholic schools, where educators, clergy, trustees, and families form a sacred partnership in shaping minds and hearts in the truth and love of Christ.
In these times of uncertainty and rapid cultural change, our young people need more than optimism; they need hope founded in Christ. Catholic education offers more than academic excellence; it offers formation in discipleship. In every classroom, library, playground, and staff room, we are called to bear witness to Christ, to teach as He taught, and to lead others to the deep peace that only He can give.
The Catholic Bishops of Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon have released a pastoral letter in recognition of Catholic Education Week, offering reflection and encouragement to Catholic school communities across the region:
We, the Catholic Bishops of Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon, offer our prayers and profound thanks to all who serve the mission of Catholic education: students, parents, teachers, educational assistants, support staff, school leaders, trustees, and parish clergy. Your fidelity, courage, and love make it possible for our schools to remain steadfast in identity and luminous in hope.
Catholic Education Week 2026 Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Let your light shine in our Catholic schools.
Let your grace rain down,
bringing hope to each person we encounter,
wisdom to our teachers and leaders,
and strength in times of trial.
Protect us from harm.
Let the children come to You,
for the kingdom of God is theirs.
St. Thomas Aquinas,
patron saint of Catholic schools, pray for us.
Amen.
Let us go forward together, anchored in Christ and radiant with hope. May our words and actions always reflect the faith we profess, and may our schools continue to be places where Christ is known, loved, and proclaimed with joy.
Yours in Christ,
Catholic Bishops of Alberta, Northwest Territories and Yukon
- Most Reverend William McGrattan
Alberta Liaison Bishop for Catholic Education | Bishop of Calgary - Most Reverend Gerard Pettipas, CSsR | Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan
- Most Reverend David Motiuk | Bishop of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Edmonton
- Most Reverend Charles Duval, CSsR | Coadjutor Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan
- Most Reverend Jon Hansen, CSsR | Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith
- Most Reverend Gary Franken | Bishop of St. Paul
- Most Reverend Hector Vila | Bishop of Whitehorse
- Reverend Paul Kavanagh | Archdiocesan Administrator for the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton