WESTFIELD – St. Mary’s High School and Parish Elementary School are participating in a 24-hour online giving day starting at noon Feb. 2.
The national giving event, which takes place during Catholic Schools Week, began four years ago, but was inspired two decades ago when St. Pope John Paul II told Catholic educators in New Orleans “Yours is a great gift to the Church, a great gift to your nation.”
St. Mary’s High Schol Principal Matthew Collins, center, is flanked by staff and students (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
St. Mary’s High School Principal Matthew Collins said Catholic education remains important and relevant worldwide, but especially right here at St. Mary’s and particularly during the pandemic.
“As a school, we have been in full in-person learning since Aug. 31,” said Collins. “We have been very proactive with plans and procedures as they pertain to COVID-19 guidelines. We have been working directly with the Diocese of Springfield and the Westfield Health Department.”
Collins said the reason the schools have remained open is because of the school families.
“The support that we have had with our students and families is the reason why we have been so successful,” he said. “They are following our plan and making sure to keep their children home when needed and staying in constant contact with us if they have any questions. This has been the added benefit of going to school at St. Mary’s.”
Collins said students and their families have always been the reason for the success of St. Mary’s and this week they will celebrate during Catholic Schools Week.
“We have some fun activities for the kids planned this week at both the elementary school and the high school. The culminating activity of the week will be a visit from Bishop Byrne on Friday. He will celebrate Mass with the high school and then pay a visit to the classrooms at the elementary school,” said Collins.
According to the National Catholic Education Association, millions have been blessed by the many gifts of a Catholic school education. However, many adults have lost touch with their local Catholic school communities. Many Gifts, One Nation: A Day of Giving To Catholic Schools is a national campaign that helps focus giving back on a local level. It is an opportunity for everyone impacted by Catholic schools to give back and reconnect with the communities that gave them so much.
Collins said he hopes the local community will support St. Mary’s and asks people to “go to the website, find our school by entering the zip code, and make a donation. Every bit helps.”
To support St. Mary’s with a donation during the giving day, visit https://ncea.aware3.net/give/discover.
