By Jannice Carrasco, for KUAM News

Students and members of the Catholic Church gathered Saturday as local leaders signed a proclamation recognizing Catholic Schools Week. Catholic schools week is celebrated from January 25-31. It brings schools together in faith and community, celebrating the importance of Catholic education and its impact on students, the church and society. 

Archbishop Ryan Jimenez gives thanks for the community’s support and also highlighted the significance behind “control, alt, and believe.” He told KUAM News, "You know, when I look at the theme and it says: 'Control, Alt, Believe' I use to know control-alt-delete and now control, alt, believe and it really is very timely at this day in age where you know the role of artificial intelligence what does it say about not only education, but our faith and how we can really look at it not as an enemy but how we can make use of it without perhaps you know sacrificing our values, ethics, morals but you know be a friend to AI and not something as allowing ai to control us as the late Pope Francis said."

Father Jeffrey spoke afterwards reinforcing the archbishop’s points on support from government leaders. "I truly believe this is a beautiful partnership that we have and I hope you can see in us a source of enriching our island through education and the arts and all the creativity that our students offer and we thank you also for the support that we have this partnership together so that while we seek to educate our children we also believe that the faith component is very much part of that and these two are integral together. Thank you for your support and your belief in us. Thank you."

With the proclamation signed, Catholic Schools Week officially begins and sets the tone for a week focused on education, service, and faith.