TYNGSBOROUGH, Mass. – The Academy of Notre Dame is participating in National Catholic Schools Week, which is Jan. 26-Feb. 1 this year.

The annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week. Schools typically observe National Catholic Schools Week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members.

“Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation,” according to the National Catholic Educational Association website, www.ncea.org.

The academy will hold an all-school Catholic Schools Week liturgy on Thursday, Jan. 30, and classes will participate in a variety of activities throughout the week.

“This year’s theme of Catholic Schools Week is ‘Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service,’?” Campus Minister Joelle O’Brion said. “All three elements describe our community at the academy because we are continually living the mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame through various service activities, our rigorous academic program and our rich spiritual life.

“This is why we have a liturgy for Pre-K through grade 12 in our school gym to accommodate our entire student body in gathering for prayer and celebrating the Eucharist.”

For more information about Catholic Schools Week, visit www.ncea.org/catholicschoolsweek.