Diocesan schools celebrate successes, look ahead to the future during Catholic Schools Week

The Catholic schools community in the Diocese of Baton Rouge celebrated the achievements, growth, and values that shape its success during National Catholic Schools Week (CSW) Jan. 28 – Feb. 4. 

The local schools reflected on the rich legacy of Catholic education and renewed their commitment to teach the faith and work together to build upon the academic excellence, safety, and well-being of their students. 

“This year we embraced the (national) theme ‘United in Faith: Reflect, Renew, and Respond,’” wrote Dr. Pattie Davis, Superintendent of Schools of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, in the 2022-2023 Annual Report she presented during CSW. 

Davis proudly noted that for decades our diocesan Catholic schools have met and surpassed milestones that have defined the ministry of the church. 

“Our assessment outcomes, student commitment to community service, and achievements serve as a testament that commitment to faith and academic excellence remains unwavering,” Davis wrote. 

For example, the 14,184 students enrolled in Baton Rouge area diocesan schools performed 119,209 service hours during the 2022-2023 school year, according to the report. 

Last year’s graduating class had an excellent 99.9 percent graduation rate and earned $83,656,456 in total scholarship awards. 

The report also outlined how schools progressed with a continuum of safety as well as professional development. 


Top  right photo: Students displayed their talents in a Showcase of Arts & Talents that capped off Catholic Schools Week. Photos provided by Nicole Jones | Digital Media Manager, Diocese of Baton Rouge   
Above Photo: Bishop Michael G. Duca addressed students at the annual Catholic Schools Week Mass at St. Thomas More Church in Baton Rouge. 

“United in faith, we celebrate the productivity of the past and a future filled with wonder and potential,” Davis wrote. 

Among the highlights of Catholic Schools Week was the Distinguished Graduates Award Dinner January 29. There, Louisiana State Appellate Court Judge Katherine “Tess” Percy Stromberg spoke about how the teachers, staff, religious sisters, and priests she encountered in her Catholic education made a direct and lasting impact on her life. Stromberg is the Distinguished Graduate of St. John Primary/St. Theresa of Avila Middle School in Gonzales.  

The subjects she studied, even “the math she never thought she would use,” gave to her skills she uses daily: listening intently and researching state law, understanding ballistics or accident reconstruction and even flooding, and then formulating and composing an answer in a manner that others can understand.  

“But a Catholic education is more than just those basic subjects. It’s that feeling of community that’s formed by our Catholic faith,” said Stromberg, who actively volunteers at St. Theresa Church and School. She and her husband, Lee, sent their three children to school at St. John/St. Theresa. 

Stromberg added, “It’s those prayers that you learned that automatically pop up in your head and recite when you need help and guidance. It is looking up and over in church and seeing your former classmates and their families and seeing their children in school with yours.” 

A more compelling reason for Stromberg’s support of Catholic education comes from her daughter, who wrote a note that week about the things that made her grateful her parents put her in Catholic schools and for “raising her Catholic in the first place.”  

Stromberg’s daughter penned about the friends she made, the leadership and team building skills she learned through school clubs, daily prayer, and retreats and weekly Masses. 


During the CSW Mass, student representatives of schools in the diocese presented gifts  that were then donated to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

“I can honestly say that what I see happening in our Catholic schools today is exciting,” Stromberg said. “Our administrators and teachers aren't just teaching our faith to our kids, but showing them how to embrace it, to grow it.” 

Bishop Michael G. Duca and Davis presented achievement awards to Stromberg and the distinguished graduates from each of the diocesan schools. 

Also receiving awards were Julie Vosbein, teacher/mentor teacher at Mater Dolorosa School in Independence, distinguished educator; Paula Poche, Principal of St. Peter Chanel School in Paulina, distinguished administrator; and Father Ed Chiffriller, SSJ, Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church in Baton Rouge, distinguished pastor. 

On January 31, the feast day of St. John Bosco, the patron saint of youth, educators and student representatives gathered at St. Thomas More Church in Baton Rouge for the Catholic Schools Week Mass and Program. 

In his homily, Bishop Duca noted the critical support and love that parents and families provide for children as they grow up and learn what Jesus means in the Gospel of Matthew when He encourages us to “be like a child.” Likewise, Catholic Schools help children get the education and formation they need to grow into solid, responsible adults. 

“In that process, we still need to come to God. As a child we still need to ask God for his help,” said the bishop.

He urged attendees to enter into a relationship with God, who can help them spiritually and morally, and to remember they are called not to be what they want who Jesus calls them to be by serving others.

He further encouraged attendees to continue learning. 

“Don’t stop learning. Keep learning more and more about the faith, about the world, about yourself and your relationship with God,” said Bishop Duca. 

Sharing the story of how St. John Bosco ministered to youth, the bishop encouraged the youth to listen to God, never separate themselves from the church and Jesus Christ, and to follow wherever God’s word and spirit is guiding them to go. 

“Say ‘yes’ when you are called to a particular vocation,” Bishop Duca urged. 

Following the Mass, educators celebrating service milestones received recognition awards. 

Catholic Schools Week was capped off on Feb. 2 with an arts and talent show at the Catholic Life Center. 


The Distinguished Graduates Dinner on Jan. 29 provided those involved in Catholic Education and their supporters an opportunity to fellowship and celebrate their accomplishments.