Catholic Schools Week – 18–24 January 2026
adminCalled to be Stars – Archbishop Eamon’s Message for Catholic Schools Week 2026
In a short reflection ahead of Catholic Schools Week, Archbishop Eamon Martin invites us to look to the night sky for inspiration. Drawing on an image from Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, he speaks of small flashes of light that can be seen even in deep darkness.
Describing Catholic schools as stars in a constellation, Archbishop Eamon reflects on this year’s theme, Normal people (Lives), called to holiness. He reminds us that holiness is lived in ordinary ways: being kind, forgiving, compassionate, serving others, and bringing the joy of Jesus into daily life.
Each member of a Catholic school community, he says, can be a light for others, not by doing extraordinary things, but by living everyday life with love and faith.
Catholic Schools – Normal Lives, Called to Holiness
Catholic Schools Week 2026 invites us to pause, reflect, and celebrate the quiet yet extraordinary way holiness takes root in our ordinary lives. This year’s theme, “Catholic Schools – Normal Lives, Called to Holiness,” draws inspiration from the words of Pope Francis, reflecting on the life of Blessed Carlo Acutis:
“Holiness does not mean performing extraordinary things, but doing ordinary things with love and faith.”
Pope Francis on Carlo Acutis
Canonised as the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis reminds us that holiness is not distant or abstract. It is lived in classrooms and corridors, in friendships and families, in prayer before exams, kindness on the playground, and care for one another each day.
Everyday Holiness in Practice
The theme of everyday holiness speaks powerfully to children and young people. Throughout the week, schools are invited to explore how holiness is lived in real and practical ways:
- Through modern witnesses like Blessed Carlo Acutis, a teenager who loved football, technology and the Eucharist
- Through saints who lived family life, worked ordinary jobs, or carried illness and suffering with faith
- Through prayer, service, courage, joy, and love in daily relationships
- Through the Eucharist, Scripture, and Christian friendship as sources of strength and meaning
As Pope Leo XIV recently reflected, “The saints show us that holiness is not about escape from the world, but deep engagement with it in the Spirit of Christ.”
Daily themes for Catholic Schools Week 2026
Each day of the week highlights a different dimension of our shared call to holiness:
- Monday – Called to Holiness through Prayer
Prayer nurtures our relationship with God, from quiet stillness to joyful praise, from traditional prayers to personal conversation with Jesus. - Tuesday – Called to Holiness through Love and Friendship
Inspired by Jesus’ command, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12), pupils reflect on kindness, forgiveness, and inclusion. - Wednesday – Called to Holiness in Family Life (Grandparents’ Day)
A cherished day that honours grandparents and elders, recognising their role in passing on faith, wisdom, and love across generations. - Thursday – Called to Holiness through Service and Courage
Stories of saints who served the poor, stood up for justice, and showed courage in difficulty encourage young people to live with compassion and integrity. - Friday – Called to Holiness through Joy and Mission
Holiness is joyful. The week concludes by celebrating the joy of the Gospel and the call for young people to be missionary disciples in today’s world.
Praying together as a diocesan family
In the Archdiocese, Archbishop Eamon Martin has joined with schools across the Northern part of the Diocese in prayer for a fruitful and grace-filled Catholic Schools Week, celebrating the vital witness of Catholic education in our communities.
Schools from the Southern part of the Archdiocese will gather for prayer and celebration in Holy Redeemer Church on Thursday 22 January 2026, a visible sign of unity, faith, and shared mission.
Resources to support schools
A wide range of resources has been prepared to support schools in bringing this theme to life:
- Primary school resources:
https://catholiceducation.ie/csw-2026-primary-schools-resources/ - Post-primary school resources:
https://catholiceducation.ie/csw-2026-post-primary-schools-resources/
These materials integrate seamlessly with Religious Education, SPHE, wellbeing, and digital literacy, helping young people explore human dignity, resilience, faith, and responsible online presence through the inspiring story of Carlo Acutis.
A Call to All of Us for Today
Holiness is not something to be achieved by effort alone; it is first and foremost a gift; God at work in the ordinary rhythm of our lives. During Catholic Schools Week 2026, we give thanks for Catholic schools as places where young people discover that they are loved by God, that their lives matter, and that they are called to be saints, here and now.
As Pope Francis urged us: “Do not be afraid to be saints!”
May this Catholic Schools Week renew hope in our school communities, strengthen partnerships between home, school, and parish, and help every child and young person recognise that even the most ordinary day can be a place of grace.
