Catholic Schools’ Arts And Music Festival Performance Lineup

Story and Photos By Beth Donze

Mall-goers will be treated to a major dose of Catholic-school excellence in the visual and performing arts at the 2020 Catholic Schools Week Arts & Music Festival, set for Jan. 27-30 at Lakeside.

Instrumental, vocal, dance and cheer performances by students in 30 Catholic elementary and high schools will be presented to the public from a stage set up in the mall’s Veterans Skylight location (see schedule below).

Colorful exhibits of original student art from 34 Catholic elementary and high schools will radiate from the stage and boast media such as paint, crayon, pencil, clay, wood, metal, paper and fabric.

All festival events and exhibits are free and open to the public, and ample seating will be available in the main performance area. The following performance schedule was provided by the Office of Catholic Schools:

► Monday, Jan. 27: St. Stephen, 1:30-2 p.m.; St. Benilde, 2-2:30 p.m.

► Tuesday, Jan. 28: St. Alphonsus, 10-10:30 a.m.; Resurrection of Our Lord, 10:30-11 a.m.; Archbishop Chapelle, 11-11:30 a.m.; St. Dominic, noon-12:30 p.m.; Our Lady of Lourdes, 12:30-1 p.m.; St. Clement of Rome, 1-1:30 p.m.; St. Michael Special, 1:30-2 p.m.; St. Francis Xavier, 4-4:30 p.m.; St. Charles Borromeo, 4:30-5 p.m.; Visitation of Our Lady, 5-5:30 p.m.; St. Matthew the Apostle, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

► Wednesday, Jan. 29: St. Joan of Arc (in LaPlace), 10-10:30 a.m.; Ursuline Elementary, 10:30-11 a.m.; St. Mary’s Academy, 11-11:30 a.m.; Our Lady of Prompt Succor (in Chalmette), 11:30 a.m.-noon; St. Mary’s Dominican, noon-12:30 p.m.; St. Scholastica, 12:30-1 p.m.; St. Angela Merici, 1-1:30 p.m.; Holy Cross Middle, 1:30-2 p.m.; St. Joan of Arc (in New Orleans), 2-3 p.m.; Christ the King, 4:30-5 p.m.; St. Catherine of Siena, 5-5:30 p.m.; St. Rita (in Harahan), 6:30-7 p.m.

► Thursday, Jan. 30: Holy Name of Jesus, 10-10:30 a.m.; Holy Cross High, 10:30-11 a.m.; De La Salle, 11-11:30 a.m.; St. Edward the Confessor, 11:30-noon; St. Christopher, noon-1 p.m.

Catholic Schools Week will culminate on Friday, Jan. 31 with a 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 105 Bonnabel Blvd. in Metairie. Archbishop Gregory Aymond will be the principal celebrant, and congregants will include students, faculty and staff members from the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Schools.

During the liturgy’s opening procession, student representatives will carry up donations of blankets for a local shelter. A quilt incorporating the logos of area Catholic schools also will be unveiled.