Sixth graders gather at Cathedral for annual Catholic Schools Week Mass
Sixth grade students from across the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama gathered on Friday, Jan. 30, for the annual Catholic Schools Week Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul. The tradition brings students together from each Catholic school to celebrate faith, unity, and the shared mission of Catholic education.
The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Steven J. Raica with school pastors from throughout the diocese concelebrating. Students from Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School and John Carroll Catholic High School served as ushers, modeling leadership and service, while the John Carroll Catholic High School Chamber Singers, Bruce Ludwick, and Michael Grondin provided sacred music.
In his homily, Bishop Raica encouraged students to recognize their identity in Christ and their call to live out their faith daily. Quoting St. Paul, he reminded them, “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light,” emphasizing that students are not simply called to possess light, but to be a reflection of Christ’s light in the world.
Drawing from the Gospel imagery of the mustard seed, Bishop Raica explained that faith often grows quietly and steadily over time. “When you stay close to Christ, through prayer, through the sacraments, through learning in your Catholic school, Christ’s light grows within you,” he said, encouraging students to nurture their faith through daily choices rooted in goodness, justice, and truth.
As a special keepsake, each sixth grader received a St. John Bosco prayer card, a gift from the Catholic Schools Office, reminding students of the importance of prayer, perseverance, and joyful discipleship.
The annual Catholic Schools Week Mass continued to serve as a powerful moment of unity for students across the diocese, reinforcing the shared commitment to faith formation and academic excellence. Together, as one diocesan family, students were reminded of their call to live as “children of the light” and to carry Christ’s hope into their schools, parishes, and communities.
