As Holy Family RCSSD welcomes students back for the new academic year, the community has a major accomplishment from Spring 2025 to celebrate. Our division was recently recognized with the CCSTA’s Toonies for Tuition Trophy commemorative plaque. Holy Family secured the prestigious number one spot by raising the highest donation amount per student, demonstrating a profound commitment to ensuring access to Catholic education where public funding is limited or non-existent.
In May, Holy Family School Division also dedicated time to spiritual reflection and community engagement during Catholic Education Week. Students and staff participated in Pilgrimages of Hope, throughout the Division bringing together staff and students in a powerful, collective act of faith and unity across the schools.
Catholic Education Week was celebrated across Saskatchewan from May 25 to June 1, 2025, under the theme: “Pilgrims of Hope.” Throughout the week, the entire school division embarked on meaningful pilgrimages that reflected a shared mission as Catholic educators and learners.
The week began by proclaiming the start of Catholic Education Week by our Holy Family Trustees at Holy Mass at each of our Parishes. On Monday, central office staff travelled to Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan, for our annual faith retreat. There, we explored the deeply rooted Catholic heritage of the community. We visited the Our Lady of Assumption Co-Cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace, St Joseph’s Hospital/Foyer d’Youville, College Mathieu, and the Gravelbourg Convent of Jesus and Mary. The day included reflecting on the sacredness of the place and learning how its foundations were built on faith, service, and community. It was a powerful beginning to all of our schools joining in pilgrimage throughout the week.
Each school in our division hosted their own Pilgrimage of Hope to mark the Jubilee Year and live out the message of hope and faith. Highlights from our schools include:
• St. Mary’s School: Organized a schoolyard pilgrimage with hope-themed stations that students visited at different times throughout the day.
• St. Michael School: Classrooms journeyed to their Church Chapel for Eucharistic Adoration with Father Val, offering a full-day pilgrimage experience of prayer and reflection.
• Sacred Heart School: Allowed each classroom to choose its own pilgrimage focus, from acts of service to expressions of hope. These were showcased in a powerful presentation during the school’s weekend Gospel Assembly.
• St. Augustine School: Created a guided, school-wide pilgrimage that included music, reflection, and “Pilgrimage of Hope” booklets. Their journey also incorporated the Seven Sacred Indigenous Teachings, beautifully uniting Catholic and Indigenous spiritual traditions.
• St. Olivier School: Classrooms chose significant community locations for their pilgrimage. Students wrote prayers for each place and the people who lived and worked there—an inspiring act of service and connection.
In addition to these pilgrimages, schools participated in a wide range of Catholic Education Week activities:
• Daily prayer and Gospel reflections
• School-wide prayer stations
• Eucharistic Adoration
• Celebrations for World Catholic Education Day
• Activities inspired by the children’s book ‘Circles All Around Us’ (a book gifted to each school), connecting literacy with love of God and others
• Family picnic lunches to foster community and joy
Families were also invited to follow along on Edsby, where we shared the theme of each day and accompanying prayers. We are so proud of the creativity, faith, and unity displayed across our division. From the central office to every school community, we truly walked together as Pilgrims of Hope, strengthening our bonds and celebrating the gift of Catholic education.
