Hundreds of students from high schools, elementary schools, and schools of special education will package 1,500 bags to benefit Catholic Charities of Philadelphia’s (CCoP) Out of School Time Programs (OST).
National Catholic Schools Week (CSW) began in 1974. CSW will be celebrated nationally Sunday, January 25-Saturday, January 31, 2026. This year’s theme is Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community. While observances will be ongoing in our schools and parishes throughout the week, Wednesday, January 28, 2026, has been designated for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s keystone CSW event. The theme for that day is Celebrating the Nation.
Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will mark that day by hosting a service initiative at Lansdale Catholic High School in Lansdale (Montgomery County).
It will be the keystone event for the celebration of Catholic Schools Week (CSW) in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and feature participation from hundreds of students representing Archdiocesan high schools, parish-based elementary schools, and schools of special education.
These young people will combine efforts to package 1,500 bags with non-perishable items for youth served by OST. Handwritten notes with encouragement will also be included in the bags.
Archbishop Pérez will be joined by Mrs. Heather Huot, Secretary and Executive Vice President for Catholic Charities of Philadelphia; Ms. Kathleen Bevenour, Director of Family and Community Services for CCoP ; Ms. Meghan Sidorski, Assistant Director of Family and Community Services for CCoP, as well as Ms. Meghan Lister Callen, ’96 President of Lansdale Catholic High School.
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Lansdale Catholic High School
700 Lansdale Avenue
Lansdale, PA 19446
Leadership from the Office of Catholic Education including Mr. Jay DeFruscio, Chief Operating Officer for Secondary Schools; Andrew McLaughlin, Ed. D., Secretary for Elementary Education; and Mr. William Brannick, Superintendent for Secondary Schools and Schools of Special Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will be present and participate in the service activity.
In addition to packaging the bags students will have an opportunity to hear from Nelson-Mandela Mensah, Program Director of Saint Barnabas Out of School Time Program in Southwest Philadelphia.
Background Information on Out of School Time:
Currently, in partnership with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families, Catholic Charities of Philadelphia operates seven Out of School Time Programs that offer an array of creative after-school activities in the late afternoon aimed at youth development and family support. Rooted in Catholic faith, OST Programs are educational, social, and recreational, serving nearly 500 children ages 5-14 in Philadelphia. For more information about CCoP, please visit ccphila.org/.
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Editor’s Note:
For information about Lansdale Catholic High School, please visit lansdalecatholic.com/. For information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit aopcatholicschools.org/. For information about Catholic Schools Week, please visit here.
Contact:Meredith Wilson
Media and Events Specialist
215-587-3747