St. John Receives Prestigious Catholic Identity Award

On April 28, St. John the Evangelist School was honored with the National Catholic Identity Award, recognizing the school’s work “in promoting a vibrant, living and dynamic Catholic identity.” The Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools and National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) joined in the celebration, and William H. Sadlier Inc. representatives presented Principal Casey Buckstaff and the Rev. Erik Arnold with a keepsake and $1,500 to support catechetical and educational ministry.

The Sadlier Catholic Identity Award was first presented in 1998. This award honors schools or parishes that demonstrate effectively and clearly the identity as a Catholic people. Recipients are identified by the host diocese of the NCEA Convention.

“Catholic identity embraces our beliefs, our worship, our life within the community of faith, our mission as disciples of Jesus Christ and as his witnesses in today’s world,” said Danny McElhinny, William H. Sadlier Inc.’s senior vice president of global sales. “We believe that Catholic identity, like love, can best be explained by pointing to examples. That is the purpose of these Catholic Identity Awards.”