Garden Grove, Calif. (Jan. 22, 2019) – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange invites the public to visit its parochial schools as it celebrates National Catholic Schools Week, an ongoing annual event since 1974 that gives families and the community an opportunity to visit campuses and classrooms. Catholic Schools Week which takes place from Jan. 27 to Feb. 2 allows potential students and their families to see first-hand some of the advantages of a Catholic education. During the week, some schools will be showcasing science fairs or history exhibits. Other schools are offering tours of their campuses and a chance to celebrate Mass with the school community. A few offer open houses after Catholic Schools Week. This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” The Diocese of Orange Catholic Schools system includes 41 accredited elementary and secondary schools that educate and challenge 17,775 students to exemplify the values in this year’s theme. Schools in the diocese have consistently earned scores above the national average in standardized testing. And all of the schools have a 1-to-1 technology program that equips each student with an iPad or Chromebook. “Our diocesan schools truly have a commitment to academic excellence and faith formation,” said Dr. Erin Barisano, Diocese of Orange superintendent of Catholic schools. “Our students have been learning and succeeding academically while infusing everything with our Catholic identity,” she said. “Now we are at a point where we are continuing to build on that as technology changes all the time,” Barisano said. “We want to utilize it as a tool for student learning and for evangelization.” Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week has been recognized by every diocese throughout the country. The last Sunday of January marks the beginning of the week. During this time, the Diocese of Orange celebrates the value of Catholic education through a variety of activities and events that include students, their parents, and the community.   St. Catherine’s Academy Anaheim 1-27-19 12–1:30 p.m. St. Justin Martyr Anaheim 1-27-19 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Pancake breakfast St. Angela Merici Brea 1-27-19 9–10 a.m. Mass at 9:30 a.m. St. Pius V          Buena Park 1-27-19 10:15 a.m. Mass at 9:15 a.m. St. John the Baptist Costa Mesa 1-27-19 2–4  p.m. St. Joachim Costa Mesa 1-27-19 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Mass at 10 a.m. St. Irenaeus Cypress 1-27-19 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. St. Juliana Falconieri Fullerton 1-27-19 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Masses at 9 and 11 a.m. St. Columban        Garden Grove 1-27-19 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Mass at 9:30 a.m. Sts. Simon & Jude Huntington Beach 1-27-19 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. St. Bonaventure Huntington Beach 1-27-19 10 a.m.–1 p.m. St. Bonaventure Huntington Beach 2-8-19 8–9 a.m. St. Bonaventure Huntington Beach 3-8-19 8–9 a.m. St. Bonaventure Huntington Beach 4-5-19 8–9 a.m. St. Bonaventure Huntington Beach 5-24-19 8–9 a.m. St. Catherine of Siena Laguna Beach 1-31-19 5–7 p.m. St. Catherine of Siena Laguna Beach 2-6-19  St. Hedwig Los Alamitos 1-27-19 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Our Lady Queen of Angels Newport Beach 1-27-19 9:30–11 a.m. Mass at 8:30 a.m. St. Norbert Orange 1-27-19 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Holy Family Cathedral Orange 1-27-19 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. Mass at 9:30 a.m. La Purisma Orange 1-27-19 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Mass at 8 a.m. St. Joseph (Placentia)         Placentia 1-27-19 9 a.m.–1 p.m. St. Junipero Serra Phelan 1-27-19 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Open house Our Lady of Fatima San Clemente 1-27-19 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Science Fair St. Joseph Santa Ana 2-24-19 10 a.m.–1 p.m. St. Barbara Santa Ana 1-27-19 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Mass at 9:30 a.m. School of Our Lady Santa Ana 2-24-19 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Mass at 8:30 a.m. St. Anne Santa Ana 3-3-19 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Mass at 8:45 a.m. St. Polycarp Stanton 1-27-19 10 a.m.–2 p.m. St. Cecilia Tustin 1-27-19 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Mass at 9 a.m. St. Jeanne de Lestonnac Tustin 1-30-19 9 a.m. Blessed Sacrament Westminster 1-27-19 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Mass at 9:30 a.m. St. Francis of Assisi Yorba Linda 1-27-19 10 a.m.–2 p.m.