Shrine celebrates community and service during National Catholic Schools Week

ROYAL OAK — Shrine Catholic Schools are in the midst of National Catholic Schools Week Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 and are celebrating with service and activities. 

“Catholic Schools Week is just an opportunity for us to unite all of our Shrine schools and celebrate the foundation of why our school is so special,” said Sarah Cerone, principal of Shrine Catholic High School. 

National Catholic Schools Week has been celebrated since 1974, according to the National Catholic Educational Association website, ncea.org.

 Catholic schools around the nation will be observing the week with Masses, assemblies, events and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members, according to the NCEA. 

Cerone said that the morning of Jan. 28 choir students in grades 4-12 united at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, at 2100 12 Mile Road in Royal Oak, for a choir performance.

“Over 200 students were united singing and celebrating our Catholic faith, which is really amazing,” Cerone said. 

According to a press release from Shrine Catholic Schools, the concert is a tradition that embodies what Catholic education stands for at Shrine. 

“One of our core values is taking care of others,” Cerone said. “Down at 12 Mile and 13 Mile campuses are the food drives that we have going on with Gleaners, so we are seeking contributions both online and actual physical food.”

The food drive is taking place until Jan. 31. Nonparishable goods such as protein rich foods, nut butter, soups, canned vegetables or fruits, oatmeal and healthy cereal, pasta and pasta sauces, and healthy snacks are being accepted. 

Donations can be brought to the main offices of the National Shrine of the Little Flower at 2100 W. 12 Mile Road in Royal Oak, the grade school at 1621 Linwood Ave. in Royal Oak and the high school and academy at 3500 W. 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak. 

People can also donate online at fooddrives.gcfb.org. Online, users can purchase different items to go into the donation. The goal is to raise $5,000 dollars in food donations. 

Shrine High School, located at 3500 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, will be hosting a blood drive on Jan. 30, which is only open to Shrine students, family and staff. 

“I wish we could open it to the public, but just for the safety of the students we felt it was necessary to keep it to our (Shrine) community,” Cerone said.

Grades six through 12 have a penny war competition going on this week. The different grades compete to see who can raise the most money for a charity. 

“All of the students are bringing their pennies and change and filling up these giant containers, and at the end of the week, whoever wins gets to select the charity that the money goes to,” Cerone said. 

The winning group will choose to donate the money to one of three charities including the Humane Society, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

For more information on Shrine Catholic Schools, visit shrinecatholicschools.com. 

To donate to the food drive, visit fooddrives.gcfb.org, and click on the “current food drives” option, and scroll down to the 2025 Shrine Catholic Schools Virtual Food Drive option. The food drive will end on Jan. 31.