1,400 Educators Celebrate a New School Year with Daniel Cardinal DiNardo (1)

August 7, 2015

HOUSTON - On Friday, August 7, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo will celebrate the beginning of a new school year with more than 1,400 teachers and school administrators from the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The Mass, to be held at 9:30 a.m. at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston, will be followed by an awards ceremony. 

"Every year we gather together as witnesses of our faith to share in the evangelizing mission of the Church," said Dr. Julie Vogel, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese. "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. Our mission is to call young people to holiness and prepare them to live and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By beginning the year together in worship, we acknowledge our solidarity with each other, the communities in which we serve, and the larger Church."

After the Mass, Dr. Vogel will present awards to 135 educators who are celebrating milestone years of service in Catholic education. The number of years of service range from 5 to 60 years. 

She will close the celebration by presenting the Sally Landram Excellence in Education Award to a Catholic school educator who exemplifies excellence and professional dedication. 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
• 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.