U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (IL-3) marked National Catholic Schools Week by attending Oak Lawn's St. Gerald School and Parish's “St. Gerald’s Got Talent” show at the Lexington House in Hickory Hills. The congressman presented St. Gerald pastor Father Lawrence Malcolm with an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol building, along with a copy of a congressional resolution honoring Catholic schools for the “key role they play in promoting and ensuring a brighter, stronger future for our nation.”

“I was blessed with the opportunity to be educated in Catholic schools for 12 years. Now, one of the highlights of my year is when I visit exceptional Catholic schools during Catholic Schools Week,” said Rep. Lipinski. “At St. Gerald and all of the other outstanding schools in the Chicago Archdiocese, the administrators, teachers, and parents clearly are working together to provide students with a strong education and teach our next generation of leaders the value of their Catholic faith and community service.”

A proud graduate of St. Symphorosa Grammar School and St. Ignatius College Prep, Rep. Lipinski for seven consecutive years has introduced a resolution in Congress honoring National Catholic Schools Week and praising the outstanding work of Catholic Schools.

This year’s theme for National Catholic Schools Week, which ran between and Jan. 27 and Feb. 2, was “Catholic Schools Raise the Standards.”