Message for Catholic Education Week
4 May 2025
His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo
Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto

My dear friends,

I greet you with joy as we celebrate Catholic Education Week, occurring this year from May 4-9, under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” which of course, is drawn from the Holy Jubilee Year proclaimed by our beloved Pope Francis, called home to the Lord just a few days ago. This theme invites us to journey together in faith, hope, and love, trusting in the promise of Christ’s presence and action among us.

This past year, I have had the privilege of visiting several Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto. I have been deeply inspired by the dedication of staff and volunteers who tirelessly guide our students with wisdom and compassion. Equally uplifting are the young people themselves - vibrant pilgrims who embody hope through their creativity, service, and commitment to living as disciples of Jesus.

I offer my most sincere appreciation to all who sustain our Catholic schools: educators, families, and parishes. This vital partnership between parish, home, and school reflects our shared calling to be pilgrims of hope, journeying alongside one another. In this Holy Year, we are reminded that hope is not passive; it is not simply an optimistic outlook; rather, it is an active trust in God’s mercy and a bold witness to his love. Our Catholic schools stand as beacons of this hope, imparting not only knowledge but also the virtues that shape us into saints. Here, students encounter Jesus - in daily prayer, the sacraments, and acts of mercy and charity toward the marginalized, the most vulnerable, and the forgotten.

Our publicly funded Catholic education remains a cherished gift in this province, and one we nurture with great care. It is our responsibility to offer an authentic Christian witness and teaching, guiding our youth to discover the personal love of Christ. As pilgrims, we accompany them, fostering their growth in faith and indeed hope, that they may become instruments of God’s transforming grace in the world. This lofty calling requires that we remain steadfast to the Gospel of Life, the truths of our Traditions, and to reject the different cultural and nefarious ideologies that undermines our authentic Catholic identity and life in Christ

During this Catholic Education Week, let us therefore earnestly renew our commitment to the educational mission at hand. May our schools be places where hope flourishes, pleasing to the Lord and a testament to his life-changing promise. I assure you of my prayers and closeness as we journey together in this Jubilee Holy Year. Let us entrust our efforts to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our spiritual Mother, whose intercession strengthens us as pilgrims on the path to her Son, Jesus.