Education

The 119 elementary schools and 28 high schools in the 11-county Archdiocese of St. Louis will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week beginning Sunday, Jan. 29. The annual celebration includes a variety of academic programs, religious events, open houses and other special activities highlighting the many positive aspects of Catholic education, which has been a part of our archdiocese for almost 200 years.

A priest and a principal in the archdiocese are being recognized for their commitment to Catholic education.

Father Tom Molini, pastor of St. Gerard Majella Parish in Kirkwood, is one of 10 pastors nationwide to receive the Distinguished Pastor Award from the National Catholic Educational Association for outstanding support to Catholic elementary education.

Mike Welling, principal of Incarnate Word School in Chesterfield, is this year's Distinguished Elementary Principal in the St. Louis Archdiocese.

JEFFERSON CITY -- The Missouri Catholic Conference is strongly supporting proposed legislation by State Sen. Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville, and State Rep. Shane Schoeller, R-Willard, to repeal a provision in the Missouri Constitution that for more than 100 years has been used to deny basic public services to children attending religious schools.

Everyone knows what a Christmas tree is. On the other hand, the Jesse Tree, a religious symbol seen and referred to frequently during Advent and Christmas, is something of a mystery to many Catholics.

Many parishes and schools display some sort of "Jesse Tree," which they use as part of their charitable giving during the holiday season.

But what is it? Where does it come from? And how is it relevant for Catholics?

"I support the Appeal" because it means bringing Christ alive through serving others, wrote Maddy Holmes, one of the winners of this year's Annual Catholic Appeal essay contest.

The beat goes on at Annunciation School, which received two recent grants in recognition of its efforts in music education.

Each of the two grants provided by Target stores is for $2,000. With them the school purchased 25 new percussion instruments -- used for the first time at the Dec. 15 all-school concert -- and is developing a drama program for the eighth grade.