Chicago, IL January 25, 2008 — Catholic Schools Light the Way is the theme of Catholic Schools Week 2008 that will be celebrated in Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools in Cook and Lake counties between Sunday, January 27 and Saturday, February 2. This annual, nationwide celebration is sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association, and will feature local school activities including special Masses, open houses and visits from civic representatives and Archdiocesan officials, including Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago.

This year, Loyola University Chicago will be joined by DePaul University in offering special Catholic Schools Week ticket prices for Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic school students, employees and family members who attend select men’s and women’s DePaul Blue Demon and Loyola Ramblers basketball games. The first offering is a game between the DePaul Blue Demons women’s team and the Orange of Syracuse University at 7 p.m., Tuesday, January 29, at McGrath Arena, 2323 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago. The following evening, Wednesday, January 30, the men’s team battles the Orange at 7:30 p.m. at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. For more information on both contests, contact the DePaul ticket office at 773-325-7526.

On the final day of Catholic Schools Week, Saturday, February 2, Loyola University Chicago will welcome Archdiocesan Catholic school students, employees, family and friends to the Joseph J. Gentile Center, 6511 N. Winthrop, Chicago for a 4 p.m. women’s game between the Ramblers and the Wright State Raiders. Later that same evening, the Loyola men’s team will battle the Cleveland State Vikings at 7 p.m. at the Gentile Center. For more information on these contests, contact the Loyola Ramblers ticket office at 773-508-9653 or www.loyolaramblers.com.

Sunday, January 27

Many Catholic elementary schools throughout the archdiocese will hold open houses on this day in conjunction with regular Sunday Mass schedules. The archdiocesan website www.archchicago.org contains a directory of all Catholic schools in Cook and Lake counties. Please contact the individual schools for additional dates, times and event information.

At 11 a.m., St. Thomas of Villanova School in Palatine will welcome former Chicago Bulls player Bob Love who will speak with junior high students about overcoming obstacles on the road to success. The school, which received a 2006 Blue Ribbon Award for Academic Excellence, is located at 1141 E. Anderson Dr. in northwest suburban Palatine. For more information on St. Thomas of Villanova’s Catholic Schools Week activities and registration procedures, visit www.stvschool.org or call 847-358-2110.

From 8 to 11:30 a.m., St. Margaret of Scotland School in Chicago, in conjunction with Junior Achievement of Chicago, will host JA Day: Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders to Make Successful Choices Today. Business professionals from Chicago’s for-profit and non-profit sectors will share their experiences and expertise with students in grades Kindergarten to eight to teach them about entrepreneurship, work readiness, financial literacy and the global economy. The school is located at 9833 S. Throop St., Chicago. For more information on St. Margaret of Scotland’s Catholic Schools Week activities and registration procedures, visit www.edline.net/pages/SMSS, or call 773-238-1088.

At 8:30 a.m., Most Rev. George Rassas, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, will celebrate a Catholic Schools Week Mass for the entire school community at St. Patrick School in Wadsworth . The school is located at 15020 Wadsworth Road in north suburban Wadsworth. For more information on St. Patrick’s Catholic Schools Week activities and registration procedures, visit www.spswadsworth.org or call 847-623-8446.

At 8:30 a.m., Most Rev. Gustavo Garcia Siller, M.Sp.S., Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, will join others at St. Richard School in Chicago for its annual Catholic Schools Week Business and Community Leaders Breakfast. The school is located at 5025 S. Kenneth Ave., Chicago. For more information on St. Richard’s Catholic Schools Week activities and registration procedures, call 773-582-8083.

At 9:30 a.m., Cardinal George will preside over Mass at Our Lady of Tepeyac High Schoolin Chicago to celebrate 80 years of educating young women in the Catholic tradition. The high school has been serving the Pilsen/Little Village community ever since opening as St. Casimir High School in 1927. The school is located at 2228 S. Whipple St., Chicago. For more information on Our Lady of Tepeyac’s Catholic Schools Week activities and registration procedures, visit www.ourladyoftepeyac.org or call 773-522-0023.

Throughout the day, the student council of Queen of the Rosary School in Elk GroveVillage will hold its Change 4 Change Day where, for a $1 donation, students may attend school out of uniform and in street clothes such as pajamas or jeans and t-shirts. All proceeds from this event will be donated to ComPadres: Hearts from Home Campaign that benefits military personnel stationed overseas, particularly in the Middle East. ComPadres is a volunteer-based U.S. Army chaplain support group whose mission is to support Archdiocesan priest Fr. John Barkemeyer and other chaplains in their mission of service to U.S. armed forces, by providing financial and material support. The school is located at 690 Elk Grove Blvd in northwest suburban Elk Grove Village. For more information on Queen of the Rosary’s Catholic Schools Week activities and registration procedures, visit www.qrcougars.org or call 847-437-3322.