The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board is pleased to celebrate Catholic Education Week from May 3 to May 8, 2026. This year’s theme, Catholic Education: Pilgrims of Hope: On the Path to Holiness, invites our entire community, students, families, staff, and partners, to reflect on the gift of Catholic education and the shared journey of faith that unites us.
As part of the ongoing Jubilee Year, Catholic Education Week offers a special opportunity to place Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church at the centre of our lives. Throughout the year, Catholic school communities across Ontario continue to accompany one another as Pilgrims of Hope, embracing a path rooted in prayer, service, and evangelization.
This year’s theme is grounded in the scripture passage:
“As God who called you is holy, be holy yourselves.” (1 Peter 1:15–16)
Hope is foundational to our faith. We find hope in God’s grace and love, and we are called to share that hope with others. As we remember with love Pope Francis and look ahead with anticipation to the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, this school year invites us to renew the momentum of Jubilee celebrations and recommit ourselves to a journey toward holiness and peace.
Inspired by the witness of young people of faith, including Blessed Carlos Acutis, we are reminded that each of us is called to live as pilgrims on a journey of faith. Our lives as Christians are a path toward holiness, becoming more fully the people God created us to be. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we are strengthened in hope, as we continue to grow in faith and love.
Catholic Education Week 2026 will be celebrated through the following daily themes:
Monday: Peace be with you
Tuesday: God loves you
Wednesday: Christ saves you
Thursday: The Holy Spirit lives in you
Friday: Together on the journey
As Catholic school communities, we are invited to live this special time with enthusiasm, creativity, and generosity. Catholic Education Week is not only a celebration, but a call to action, to continue building communities rooted in faith, hope, and love, and to walk together on the path to holiness.
Artwork by Shaan Sidhu, a Grade 8 student at St. Ann (Ancaster) Catholic Elementary School.
