1,400 Educators Celebrate a New School Year with Auxiliary Bishop Sheltz

August 12, 2014

1,400 Educators Celebrate a New School Year with Auxiliary Bishop Sheltz
By Catherine Rogan

HOUSTON - On Friday, August 8, more than 1,400 teachers and school administrators from primary Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will celebrate the beginning of the new school year with a Mass and award presentation led Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston. The Mass starts at 9:30 a.m.

“Celebrating the Eucharist together sets the tone for how we, as educators, share the power of enduring love in our Catholic schools where faith, culture and life gel together in a unified way,” said Dr. Julie Vogel, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese. “During the Mass, Bishop Sheltz will celebrate and pay tribute to the work of our educators, and pray for God’s guidance as they nurture students and help them develop in mind, heart and spirit.”

After the Mass, Bishop Sheltz will have the opportunity to honor local Catholic school teachers and administrators. First he will present 135 awards to educators with milestone years of service in Catholic education ranging from 5 years to 40 years. Bishop will then honor a Catholic school educator who exemplifies excellence and professional dedication when he presents the Sally Landram Excellence in Education Award. The award is made possible by the generosity of the John W. and Alida Considine Foundation.

Teachers and staff began their back-to- school in-service the first week in August; most students start classes the second or third week of August.

About the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Catholic Schools:
• The Archdiocese has the largest private school system in Texas.
• There are currently 61 schools throughout the Archdiocese (including a new school, Christ the Redeemer Catholic School in the Cypress area).
• More than 19,000 students are enrolled.
• The schools serve students PreK-3 through 12th grade.
• All schools offer need-based tuition assistance for students.

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston serves 1.2 million Catholics in 10 counties.
It is the largest Roman Catholic diocese in Texas and the 12th largest in the United States.

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