Pinecrest Academy celebrated its founding families, Catholic Schools Week, and the school’s 2014 National Blue Ribbon designation with a Mass of Thanksgiving on Tuesday, Jan. 27, on the Pinecrest campus.
The PreK3-12th grade private Catholic school in Cumming was honored to welcome The Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, as the main celebrant of the all-school Mass. Founding families, current Pinecrest families, students, faculty and staff were in attendance for the annual Mass, which recognizes the school’s founders. Seven priests, including Pinecrest’s president, Fr. Robert Presutti, LC, concelebrated the Mass with Archbishop Gregory.
“Archbishop Gregory’s visit to Pinecrest reminds us that we share in a long and venerable tradition of Catholic education, and we are part of a global network of educational institutions,” said Fr. Robert Presutti, LC, Pinecrest Academy President. “This tradition and network give our school a framework for excellence and greatness that is not insignificant in today’s culture. The Church has been at this for years and in all parts of the globe and proven its ability to teach in all ages and across all cultures.”
Following the Mass, Archbishop Gregory joined Pinecrest’s founders at a reception in their honor, and then participated in a tour of the 68-acre campus. He visited first with Lower School students, who greeted him with a cheer line and a ‘spiritual bouquet,’ prepared by Lower School art students.
The Archbishop also toured the Middle School, where he was presented with a spiritual bouquet by student council presidents. He witnessed STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education in action in the Middle School and then enjoyed a short performance by Pinecrest’s award-winning band.
His tour culminated in the High School at a reception in the student lounge, where he talked with students and answered questions. The Archbishop’s visit to Pinecrest concluded with a luncheon in his honor with faculty and staff.
“Our students will remember this contact with their Bishop for many years,” commented Paul Parker, Pinecrest Academy Head of School. “Whether they were small children among hundreds of others crowding around him for a photo, a middle school student showing off his engineering project or singing a song from the spring production, or a high school student performing for him in our band or hosting a reception for him in the student lounge, the Bishop made a lasting impression. 
We are deeply grateful for the wisdom, warmth, patience, hope and encouragement he gave to every member of the Pinecrest community!”
This year’s Founders Day celebration marked Pinecrest’s twenty-first year as a private Catholic school and 17 years in Cumming.
National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2015 was Jan. 25-31. The theme for 2015 was “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” Schools observe the week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members – to focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to the Church, our communities and our nation.
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