SANFORD — The Bible says “it is more blessed to give than receive.”

Students at St. Thomas School in Sanford and St. James School in Biddeford are practicing that Biblical lesson this week — as they do every week — as they undertake the art of giving.

The service projects the students have been working on are part of their Catholic education — which is celebrated across the country, beginning on Sunday, with Catholic  Schools Week.

There will be special masses, and visits to each school by Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland Robert P. Deeley.

The special week also makes room for some activities — like an academic fair at St. James School or a community breakfast and art show at St. Ignatius Gym in Sanford.

At St. Thomas, the youngsters have been busy working on a number of service projects, like collecting money and school supplies to give to incoming refugees seeking help through Catholic Charities Maine’s Refugee and Immigration Services. As well, they have  collected socks and underwear for folks who live at York County Shelter Programs in Alfred and collected food for the Sanford Food Pantry.

Principal Donna Bourque said sixth- and seventh-grade students at St. Thomas School told her they wanted to help when they took part in an exercise that put them in the shoes of a refugee.

At St, James, the school community will show its patriotism by wearing red, white, and blue clothing on Tuesday, and plan to bring in T-shirts, boxer shorts, sweatpants, body wash, deodorant, and Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics sports apparel. All of the items collected will be delivered to the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough, said diocesan spokesman Dave Guthro.

Catholic Schools Week celebrates the mission of Catholic Schools: to evangelize students by nourishing faith and encouraging academic excellence while accentuating the importance of community and service in a nurturing environment.

 Bishop Deeley will help kick off the celebration with a special Mass in Sanford at 9 a.m. Sunday,  at Holy Family Church. A reception at St. Thomas School will follow.

Highlights of the week at St. Thomas include clothing theme days; academic challenges; a show by Dan Grady’s Marvelous Marionette Medley at 10 a.m. Tuesday; a bowling field trip; and a  community breakfast and art show at St. Ignatius Gym on Sunday, Feb. 5, from 7:30-11 a.m.

St. James School will kick off their celebration with a Mass and turkey supper at St. Joseph Church in Biddeford at 4 p.m. today.

On Monday, St. James School will welcome Bishop Deeley for a prayer service focused on “caring for others” at 9 a.m. Each class has created a sheep  — the theme of Good Shepherd Parish — and have written on the sheep ways to be like the Good Shepherd, said Guthro. These creations will be given to the bishop as a gift.

After the prayer service, the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders will participate in a town hall meeting with the bishop, when they can ask him questions. Following the event, the bishop will visit the other students in the school in their respective classrooms, said Guthro. On Wednesday, students will thank volunteers at a special Mass and write thank you notes to the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec and retired area priests for their contributions and friendship, and on Thursday, a school-wide academic fair will be held for students to showcase their hard work to family and friends.

“The whole week encompasses our mission of S.A.F.E. (service, academics, faith and excellence),” said Nancy Naimey, principal of St. James.  

In Sanford, students — one from each classroom — gathered for a photograph Friday morning, displaying some of the items they collected. Students from pre-K to grade 7 participated.

How was it?

‘It was fun,” one youngster said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.