Catholic Education Week takes place each year from the Feast of St Margaret of Scotland (16th November) until the Feast of St Andrew (30th November).

Catholic Education Week 2025 uses the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” which connects to the Jubilee Year 2025 proclaimed by Pope Francis. The Jubilee year is a special time of celebration, forgiveness and hope. During the Jubilee year we should try to improve our relationship with God and get closer to Him. Pope Francis decided that this Jubilee year would be a special time of forgiveness and hope.

Throughout Catholic Education Week, we have been celebrating by focusing on hope and resilience and the role of Catholic education in building a hopeful world. Children have been engaging in meaningful activities in class where they have learned that being a pilgrim of hope encourages us all all to live out our faith through acts of kindness and service.  Children have been making pledges about what their hope is for the world and thinking about what they can do to help achieve this.

“We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far- sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire; that is why I have chosen as the motto of the Jubilee, Pilgrims of Hope. ” Pope Francis

Pope Leo XIV encourages all of God’s people to have hope in God. He says: “Christian hope is like an anchor that grounds our hearts in the promise of the Lord Jesus.” This means that when times are hard, keep praying and ask God to be with you.

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,

may the faith you have given us

in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,

and the flame of charity enkindled

in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,

reawaken in us the blessed hope

for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us

into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos

in the sure expectation

of a new heaven and a new earth,

when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,

your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee

reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,

a yearning for the treasures of heaven.

May that same grace spread

the joy and peace of our Redeemer

throughout the earth.

To you our God, eternally blessed,

be glory and praise for ever.

Amen