Distinguished Catholic School Educators to be Honored at February 5 Liturgy
Catholic Schools Week, an annual tradition of celebrating Catholic education, is underway this week (January 31 – February 6) at the 21 schools located in the Diocese of Albany, with special activities and events planned at each school. Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger will offer the annual Catholic Schools Week Liturgy and Awards Presentation, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. While it is not open to the public due to COVID restrictions, the Mass will be livestreamed at www.rcda.org/livestream and will be viewed by students and teachers in classrooms across the Diocese.
Among those being honored at the Awards Presentation is Christopher Signor, principal of Catholic Central High School in Troy. Mr. Signor will be receiving the Bishop Howard J. Hubbard Distinguished Administrator Award, which recognizes an administrator who promotes a school’s Catholic education, seeking to foster a Christian community of love in which God’s truth and life are integrated into the entire curriculum and life of the school.
Additional awards to be presented include St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Distinguished Teacher Awards. Joanne Foster of St. Madeleine Sophie School in Guilderland and Richard Harrigan of Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady will receive those honors. Awards for outstanding school staff and commitment to Catholic education will also be presented, and teachers with milestone years of service to Catholic education in the Diocese will be recognized. (Download a complete list of this year’s recipients.)
“A quality Catholic education is available and affordable in the Diocese of Albany,” said Giovanni Virgiglio Jr., Superintendent of Schools. “Our schools have planned some fun and exciting activities in celebration of being families of faith. The pandemic may have altered our plans somewhat, but the festivities continue!”
The Annual Diocesan Art Show will also be presented virtually this year due to COVID-19 safety concerns. Each school will post student artwork on its website and in the coming weeks, the artwork will be shared across the Diocese’s various social media platforms.
“Every year, we look forward to showcasing our students’ imagination and creativity,” said Superintendent Virgiglio. “Artistic talent is nurtured at all of our schools. We encourage people to follow us on social media to ‘virtually’ discover the impressive array of art that is being presented.”
Each of our diocesan schools has its own website that can be accessed through the Catholic School Office website: www.higherpoweredlearning.org. The livestream of the Liturgy and Awards Presentation will begin at 10 a.m. on Feb. 5 and will be recorded for future viewing. To access, go to www.rcda.org/livestream.
For more information, contact the Diocese of Albany, Catholic School Office, at (518) 453-6602.