The national theme for the 2023 Catholic Schools Week is
“Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service”
WHEREAS, the Catholic Church on Saipan chose to bring Catholic Education to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and established Our Lady of Mercy Kindergarten in 1951, which we now know as Sister Remedios Early Childhood Development Center, and Mount Carmel School in 1952. In 1985, the Catholic Church on Saipan was elevated to a Diocese and subsequently set up a Catholic Education Office.
WHEREAS, the National Catholic Educational Association has observed, “Catholic schools have a specific purpose to form students to be good citizens of the world, love God and neighbor and enrich society with the leaven of the gospel and by example of faith;”
WHEREAS, Sister Remedios Early Childhood Development Center and Mount Carmel School have provided outstanding education to their students, thus contributing to the welfare of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and
WHEREAS, Sister Remedios Early Childhood Development Center and Mount Carmel School train and produce students strongly dedicated to their faith, values, families and communities by providing an intellectually stimulating environment rich in spiritual, character and moral development; and
WHEREAS, Sister Remedios Early Childhood Development Center and Mount Carmel School teach a diverse group of students; and
WHEREAS, Sister Remedios Early Childhood Development Center and Mount Carmel School are committed to providing a safe, structured and caring learning environment dedicated to developing each student’s God-given potential; and
WHEREAS, just as Father Arnold Bendowski and the MMB Sisters rebuilt Mount Carmel School after Typhoon Jean in 1968, and rebuilt 50 years later in the aftermath of 2018’s Super Typhoon Yutu, the Mount Carmel School and Sister Remedios Early Childhood Development Center family continues to persist with resilience, guided by the mantra: with FAITH in God, HOPE for a better tomorrow, and LOVE for each other, we are KNIGHT STRONG. We are MARIANAS STRONG;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD I. PALACIOS, Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, AND, I, DAVID M. APATANG, Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands by virtue of the authority vested in us by the Constitution and Laws of the Commonwealth, recognizing the sacrifices of the parents who chose and continue to choose to send their children to Catholic Schools, and acknowledging the outstanding commitment of the teachers, administrators, and other personnel who provide excellent education in the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, do hereby proclaim January 27 – February 4, 2023 as
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
We urge the faithful of the diocese to participate in observance of this week in appropriate ways that will help instill an awareness and appreciation of the values that Catholic education cultivates in our children, which enhance the quality of life for all our people.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands on this 27th day of January 2023.
/s/
ARNOLD I. PALACIOS
Governor
/s/
DAVID M. APATANG
Lt. Governor
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