This past week, the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles welcomed over 67,000 students back to classes at over 200 elementary and high schools in the region. Students and teachers at Our Lady of Loretto Elementary School in Los Angeles, near Echo Park, held a spirited pep rally on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
The theme was “Champions for Christ, Keeping the Flame Alive” to honor saints who were athletes, from Saint Sebastian — the patron saint of athletes and archers — to Saint Christopher, whom Catholics often pray to for protection and guidance. Our Lady of Loretto teachers danced and performed for the enthusiastic students, mostly of Latino and Filipino backgrounds, officials said. The students played relay games, created posters and danced together.
Students at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic School in Los Angeles, near Echo Park, participate in a spirited pep rally Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. The theme was “Champions for Christ, Keeping the Flame Alive,” honoring saints who were athletes.
(Courtesy of Maria Hurtado/Archdiocese of Los Angeles) Students at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic School in Los Angeles, near Echo Park, participate in a spirited pep rally Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. The theme was “Champions for Christ, Keeping the Flame Alive,” honoring saints who were athletes.
(Courtesy of Maria Hurtado/Archdiocese of Los Angeles) Students at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic School in Los Angeles, near Echo Park, participate in a pep rally Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. The theme was “Champions for Christ, Keeping the Flame Alive,” honoring saints who were athletes.
(Courtesy of Maria Hurtado/Archdiocese of Los Angeles) Students and teachers at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic School in Los Angeles participate in a pep rally Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. The theme was “Champions for Christ, Keeping the Flame Alive,” honoring saints who were athletes.
(Courtesy of Maria Hurtado/Archdiocese of Los Angeles) Students at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic School in Los Angeles, near Echo Park, participate in a pep rally Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. The theme was “Champions for Christ, Keeping the Flame Alive,” honoring saints who were athletes.
(Courtesy of Maria Hurtado/Archdiocese of Los Angeles) Students and teachers at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic School in Los Angeles participate in a pep rally Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. The theme was “Champions for Christ, Keeping the Flame Alive,” honoring saints who were athletes.
(Courtesy of Maria Hurtado/Archdiocese of Los Angeles) Jamison Mahar, principal at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic School in Los Angeles, with students at a pep rally Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. The theme was “Champions for Christ, Keeping the Flame Alive,” honoring saints who were athletes.
(Courtesy of Maria Hurtado/Archdiocese of Los Angeles) Students at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic School in Los Angeles, near Echo Park, participate in a pep rally Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. The theme was “Champions for Christ, Keeping the Flame Alive,” honoring saints who were athletes.
(Courtesy of Maria Hurtado/Archdiocese of Los Angeles) Students at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic School in Los Angeles, near Echo Park, participate in a pep rally Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. The theme was “Champions for Christ, Keeping the Flame Alive,” honoring saints who were athletes.
(Courtesy of Maria Hurtado/Archdiocese of Los Angeles) Students at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic School in Los Angeles, near Echo Park, participate in a spirited pep rally Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. The theme was “Champions for Christ, Keeping the Flame Alive,” honoring saints who were athletes.
(Courtesy of Maria Hurtado/Archdiocese of Los Angeles) Jamison Mahar, the school principal, said the pep rally “brings a renewed energy” to the new school year. “Our theme ties in the spirit of the Olympics, along with the spirit of the recent National Eucharistic Congress — it’s keeping the light of Christ alive in our hearts,” Mahar said. “It’s a way to motivate (students) to want to come back to school, to look forward to events and have this beautiful camaraderie.
” Other Catholic schools in the Archdiocese celebrated back-to-school season with honors awards, flag football games and welcome assemblies..
