Written by the National Catholic Educational Association, NCEATalk@ncea.org
National Catholic Schools Week (CSW) is the annual, nationwide celebration of Catholic education in the United States, running from the last Sunday in January through the following Saturday. For the 2026 celebration, January 25–31, schools across the nation will observe this tradition with Masses, assemblies, and events to highlight what makes Catholic schools exceptional.
United in Faith and Community: The 2023–2026 Theme
The 2023–2026 Catholic Schools Week theme is “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.” This theme is a powerful reminder that Catholic schools have an irreplaceable role in the Church’s evangelizing mission by focusing on the formation of the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. The fact that all members of a Catholic school community share the Christian vision of faith that Christ is the foundation of Catholic education is what unites the school as a faith-filled community.
The theme’s logo symbolizes this united community: people of faith serving God and others, not just a building or an institution.
Download Logos: Schools can download the official logos for use in their marketing and celebration materials by visiting the Catholic Schools Week Logos and Themes page on the NCEA website.
Why CSW is a Year-Round Opportunity
CSW is far more than a week of dress-up days and assemblies. It is a prime opportunity to fulfill key marketing and development goals for your school:
- Spotlight Values: It’s a chance to highlight your commitment to faith-based education, moral growth, and a nurturing environment.
- Deepen Community Ties: You can engage all stakeholders—families, alumni, volunteers, pastors, and local business partners—to foster strong relationships and support.
- Celebrate Achievements: Use the week to showcase excellence in academics, extracurriculars, and service that make your school exceptional.
- Drive Development: It is a vital opportunity to drive fundraising and ongoing support for your mission.
CSW is the perfect time to showcase what truly sets our schools apart: the profound connections of faith and community. The focus should be on what is unique about Catholic schools: bringing in families and communities and honoring volunteers. This is because Catholic education is a ministry, not just a service. The active involvement of parents and volunteers transforms the school into a genuine faith community, uniting the classroom, the home, and the parish in the shared mission of forming students in body, mind, and spirit.
Tried-and-True Daily Themes
Catholic schools celebrate two distinct weeks: Discover Catholic Schools Week (DCSW) in November, a crucial marketing period for prospective families, and the main National Catholic Schools Week (CSW) in January. Both celebrations traditionally dedicate each day to a different pillar of the Catholic school community. Use this combined structure to plan events that highlight the breadth of your community throughout the school year.
Many successful schools build their entire week around these themes, integrating special events like:
- Generations Day (Celebrating Families/Community): Invite grandparents, aunts, uncles, or special friends to Mass and then to the classroom for collaborative activities and snacks. This creates a memorable experience and provides a fantastic photo opportunity for visitors.
- Service Day (Celebrating the Community/Nation): Dedicate a day for students to participate in on- or off-campus service projects, such as cleaning up local parks, helping with community centers, or writing cards to parishioners and assisted living residents.
- Open House Pre-Launch: Consider hosting your primary open house event the weekend before CSW to generate early interest and applications, using CSW as the celebration after prospective families have had a chance to visit.
Maximize Your Efforts with the NCEA Digital Marketing Kit
To simplify marketing and planning, NCEA provides the Catholic Schools Week Digital Marketing Kit, our most comprehensive resource yet. This extensive toolkit includes a 77-page core planning file and numerous additional resource links, all tailored to provide a wealth of ideas, templates, and guides for the celebration.
Important: The full Digital Marketing Kit, which includes planning guides, templates, and social media graphics, is a member-only resource. Log in to view the kit now.
What’s New and Important in the Kit
This year’s kit has expanded to be even more helpful for diverse communities and year-round efforts:
- Translated Resources in Spanish: The kit now includes sections and resources translated into Spanish, making it easier to connect with Hispanic and Latino families.
- Template Downloads: Access pre-made templates for press releases, social media posts, sample letters, and more. Tools like the Open House Planning Guide and A Dozen Reasons to Choose Catholic Schools infographic in both English and Spanish will save you time and ensure your communications are professional and consistent. Check out all of the available CSW Template Downloads today.
- Digital Marketing Tools: The kit includes a Content Marketing Planning Guide (Kit pages 4-5) and a Storytelling Brainstorming worksheet (Kit pages 7-8), which are excellent for helping your team organize ideas, define your school’s unique narrative, and plan content not just for CSW, but for the entire year.
Enhance the Faith Focus: Remember that faith is the core of our united community. The Digital Marketing Kit contains essential tools, like a dedicated Celebrate CSW Liturgy Planning Guide with daily prayer suggestions. These resources make it easy to weave the theme, “United in Faith and Community,” into every Mass, prayer service, and morning announcement throughout the week.
Advocacy Made Easy: Beyond celebrating students and staff, use CSW to advocate for Catholic education. The kit provides ready-to-use communications, including the CSW Press Release Template and sample letter to government officials and community leaders (Kit page 51), helping your school make a powerful, unified statement.
Storytelling: Your Most Powerful Tool
Storytelling is the best way to market your school because it allows people to connect emotionally with the amazing Catholic education you provide. The Marketing Kit suggests ideas like focusing on student achievements, new programs, or displaying how your school lives out its mission and values.
Next Steps and Looking Ahead
To help you with your planning and ensure you are ready for the future of CSW, here are two key actions to take now and one important planning note:
- Must-Watch Planning Inspiration: For an idea-packed professional development session designed to spark new life into your Catholic Schools Week, watch the recording of our highly-rated webinar, “Catch the Fire: Creative Ideas for Catholic Schools Week.” It offers proven strategies to engage every member of your community. Watch the on-demand recording now.
- Help Shape Our Future Resources: NCEA is committed to providing you with the most relevant resources and training. Your feedback on our future plans is essential.
- The best resources we have are each other. As we begin updating the CSW Marketing Kit and planning our webinar series for next year, what is one piece of actionable advice, a hidden resource, or a brilliant idea you would recommend to your fellow Catholic school peers, or what is the single most important question you have for our team that would help you in planning your marketing efforts?
Transitioning to the Next Theme Cycle
It is important to note that the 2025-2026 school year will be the final cycle using the “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community” theme and logo. A new, three-year theme and logo will be announced following the January 2026 CSW to be embraced by all Catholic schools.
Catholic Schools Week is a time to shine, celebrate, and share the unique gift of Catholic education with your local and national community. By using the resources in the Digital Marketing Kit and leveraging these ideas, you are sure to have a successful and impactful week that builds lasting momentum for your school.
