Our Saviour Church in Jacksonville was his first stop, where students at Our Saviour School were joined by students from Routt Catholic High School, for a Mass celebrated by Bishop Paprocki at 8:20 a.m.

Father Thomas Meyer, Our Saviour pastor, and Father Hyland Smith, parochial vicar, concelebrated with the bishop. Father Brian Alford was master of ceremonies.

"Our 380 students at Our Saviour School were joined by 105 students from Routt," Father Meyer said.

The 28-member children's choir at Our Saviour, under the direction of Chris Cox, led the singing at Mass. Extraordinary ministers from Routt helped distribute holy Communion.

Later that afternoon, Bishop Paprocki and Father Alford made their way to Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, where Bishop Paprocki celebrated Mass at 1:30 p.m. in the high school gymnasium for Marquette students, and for fifth- through eighth-grade students from St. Mary School and Ss. Peter and Paul School in Alton, and St. Ambrose School in Godfrey.

Knights of Columbus from councils in Alton, Godfrey and Wood River served as honor guard for the bishop at the Mass at Marquette. Father Bill Kessler, Marquette chaplain, concelebrated.

"It is a joy to be with you today for this celebration during this week set aside to give thanks for the gift of Catholic education in our Catholic schools," Bishop Paprocki said to the students, teachers and parents at both locations.

In his homily, which was the same for both school Masses, he said this year's theme for Catholic Schools Week — Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service — is integral to the mission of every Catholic school. He then asked students to consider a simple question: "What is the purpose of a school?"

He speculated their answer would be: "To teach so that students can learn."

But then he challenged students with a follow-up question: "Why do we come to school to learn?"

The bishop described some of the changes that take place in wants and needs as students grow and mature. He compared the way schools in general prepare students for their next steps in development, to how Catholic schools in particular prepare students for life.

"At Catholic schools, we are not just concerned about forming productive citizens; we are first and foremost concerned about the steps that we take from this life to the next. We are concerned, therefore, with forming saints," he said.

"Knowledge therefore becomes the number one priority. In our Catholic schools, however, we recognize that knowledge is not opposed to faith. Think, for example, of our study of the universe. Many people look at this as a mystery to be solved by science alone. In our Catholic schools, however, while we respect various scientific explanations for how things work, we see everything as the product of God the Creator. Knowledge, therefore, is enhanced by our faith, directing it towards the eternal truths of God's marvelous plan.

"As people of faith, we know that our ultimate goal in this life is to be found worthy to enter into heaven. No earthly achievements can take the place of spending eternal life with God and all of the saints in heaven," the bishop said.

In addition, the bishop said, because Catholic schools are, first and foremost, communities of faith, they are able to help students become what is the final element in this year's theme for Catholic Schools Week — communities of service.

"Our Catholic faith reminds us that all of the gifts that we receive are to be put at the service of others for the building up of God's kingdom here on earth," he said.

"I encourage you, dear students, to see this aspect of your education in a Catholic school as a great blessing and not just an additional subject you have to take in the process of gaining knowledge for your future careers."