It was National Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 25 to Jan. 31. At our beloved Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers, N.Y., we celebrated with our students, teachers, families, parishioners, and community members. “The Heart” beat strong, with themed prayer and worship events, assemblies, a fundraiser, and more.
It all began on Saturday, Jan. 24, when the Sacred Heart family kicked off a campaign to repair its gymnasium. In early November, flooding caused irreversible damage to the gym floors. While insurance will cover the floors themselves, the bleachers, padding, and athletic equipment are not covered. These elements are essential to ensuring that students have a safe, competitive, and spirited home court—just as so many alumni once did. We thank our alumni, donors, faculty, and friends of the Heart who beat the blizzard to gather at Doubleday’s in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., for the kickoff event. We are grateful to everyone who has supported the campaign from near and far. If you are interested in supporting the 2026 Gym Modernization Campaign, then click HERE to make a donation.
The students were grateful for a powerful and joy-filled conversation on vocations on Wednesday, Jan. 28. There, they were reminded that God calls each of us with purpose and love. Thank you to Br. Robert Abbatiello, president of Sacred Heart High School, and Br. Gabriel Conlon, who shared their stories, wisdom, and lived experiences of faith. Their witness sparked good questions and meaningful reflection.
On Thursday, Jan. 29, the school community came together for a day of prayer for unity. We began the morning in the school chapel with a prayer service that was broadcast throughout the entire campus. Brother Bob shared a reflection, and our community joined in Eucharistic adoration, reminding us of the strength found in praying together as one body in Christ. In a special way, we prayed for Archbishop-designate Ronald Hicks as he prepares to lead the Archdiocese of New York. Moments like these reflect the heart of a Catholic education rooted in faith, unity, and prayer.
We were also blessed to host our grade school community during the day for unity. Students in Grades 4-8 spent time in our chapel for Eucharistic adoration. They were guided by the intermediate and middle school religion teachers, who helped them understand the significance of spending time with Jesus in this sacred way. The students from the pre-K to third grade classes visited a specially created Sacred Heart children’s bookstore. There, they listened to a story. Each of them selected a book from a collection of new and gently used books donated by our student body to enjoy during their drop-everything-and-read time later that day.
One of our favorite parts of Catholic Schools Week each year is hosting our annual Accepted Students Night. On that Thursday evening, with nearly 100 accepted students filling the room with energy and excitement, the Sacred Heart community was truly alive. Our student ambassadors led the way, hosting a fun trivia game, sharing their experiences at the Heart, and answering questions for nearly 300 guests. Their leadership, joy, and authenticity reflected the values at the core of a Catholic education: community, service, and belonging. The Sacred Heart spirit shone brightly, reminding us that Catholic Schools Week is about more than celebration. It’s about welcoming, forming, and walking alongside students as they grow in faith and purpose. We can’t wait to continue welcoming the Class of 2030 at our upcoming events!
Going to a Catholic school means being part of a much larger community rooted in faith. At Sacred Heart High School, we see the fruits of that faith each day. On Friday, Jan. 30, students came together to write postcards to friars throughout the Province. In their messages, students shared their gratitude for attending a Capuchin-led Catholic school; expressed admiration for the friars’ commitment to serving the marginalized and the Church; and assured them of their continued prayers. The postcards were sent to the friars near and far, from the brothers living next door at both the Sacred Heart and St. Clare fraternities, to the brothers on mission in Guam. It was a project that reflected beautifully the unity of the universal Church. The students also showed their support of Catholic education through a dress-down day that raised $1,000. These funds will be used to purchase art supplies for Sacred Heart Grade School and St. Peter’s School. We are truly blessed to be part of a community that reminds us of the unity of the Church and the beauty of Catholic education. We are grateful, today and every day, for our Catholic schools.
Finally, on Sunday, Feb. 1, our students, faculty, parents, families, alumni, and friends of the Sacred Heart grade and high schools joined Sacred Heart Parish for the 11:30 a.m. Mass and reception. It was a truly beautiful way to close Catholic Schools Week.
