UTICA — The Catholic school mission is very strong about faith, about excellence and about service, Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School Campus Minister Robert McQueen said Monday.

He and Notre Dame students, faculty and staff are celebrating Catholic Schools Week Jan. 29 through Feb. 4. McQueen said he is a Notre Dame class of 1970 graduate himself.

They started the celebration early Monday morning as Navy Junior ROTC cadets from the school raised a Notre Dame flag at Utica City Hall and Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri offered an official city proclamation recognizing Catholic Schools Week.

Later that morning, they also raised a Vatican flag at the school, joined by Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, New York State Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-Utica/Rome) and John Salka representing Rep. Brandon Williams (R-22, Sennett), with each offering their own governmental proclamations. They were joined in the ceremony by students, Notre Dame Associate Principal Rick Hensel, Board of Directors Chair Liz Kearns and Rome Catholic School Principal Nancy Wilson.

Buttenschon recalled she started out her own academic career at St. Paul’s in Whitesboro.

“I can tell you the foundation of the Catholic school education is one that is everlasting with me,” she said.

Buttenschon added she was proud to have both the Notre Dame and Rome Catholic schools in her district.

Picente is a graduate of Notre Dame, transferring in after eight years in public schools.

“The foundation that I got is something that I hold very dear and is very important to me in everything I do,” he said. “We have had in Oneida County a great history of Catholic schools.”

Salka, director of community affairs for Williams’ office, said he had nine years of Catholic education himself at the former St. Francis DeSales High School in Utica.

“The lessons I learned from sisters of St. Joseph - sometimes very expressly related - kept me pretty much on the straight and narrow,” he recalled. “They taught me respect ... taught me how to make sure I kept a good work ethic so we were able to get the job done. I am very, very appreciative of my Catholic education and that faith has carried me through all of my life.”

Rounding out the week, there was a luncheon Monday afternoon for priests and deacons at the school, students volunteered Tuesday at Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen and the Notre Dame Campus Ministry team delivered coffee and doughnuts Wednesday to the Utica Fire Department and other area first responders.

A Mass was planned for Thursday with Father Jason Hage, the director of the Office of Vocation Promotion for the Diocese of Syracuse and New York State Sen. Joe Griffo (R-Rome) was planning to teach a class on government today (Friday) at the school.

Hosting events at the school offered a great opportunity to showcase both the school itself and its students as well, Kearns said.

“I think this was great - the more we can get people here into the building to see what we do the better,” she explained. “It’s a great way to show them what a great place this is for the kids to learn without all of the distractions of other places. We are faith based with a great staff and great kids.”