On Sunday 29 January Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare &
Leighlin, will be the chief celebrant and preacher at Mass to mark the
opening of Catholic Schools Week 2017.
This Mass will be broadcast by
RTÉ on radio and television from the Church of Saints Peter & Paul,
Portlaoise, which has a capacity for 1,800 people.
This year’s theme, ‘Catholic schools: Learning with Pope Francis to care for our common home’ has been informed by Laudato Si’, the 2015 encyclical by Pope Francis on care for our common home.
As well as the local parish community of Portlaoise, the liturgy for
this year’s opening Mass for Catholic Schools Week will be enhanced by
the participation of students, staff and parents from ten local
schools. Music ministry will be led by Mrs Ann Bergin, musical
director, along with parish choirs.
Catholic Schools Week is an annual all-Ireland celebration which
invites schools to give expression in an exceptional way to the ethos of
Catholic education.
It acknowledges the tremendous contribution that
our Catholic primary and post-primary schools make, not just to Irish
society, but to the mission of the Church.