Vicksburg Catholic School will kick off a week of festivities Sunday.

“Catholic Schools Week is a national celebration,” said St. Aloysius High School principal Michele Townsend. “It’s a week set aside to celebrate Catholic education.”

If you go

The 27th annual $10,000 Drawdown will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 14 at Vicksburg Convention Center. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased online or at Vicksburg Catholic School. Visit www.vicksburgcatholic.org/drawdown, or call 601-630-9762.

VCS, comprised of St. Al and St. Francis Xavier Elementary, will host activities through Feb. 6. An event is scheduled each day, Townsend said, and the theme is Dividends For Life.

Students are encouraged to open the week by attending a Catholic church Sunday and, after Mass, telling parisioners about their education. On Monday, alumni are set to visit the school.

“They’ll talk about how Catholic education affected them,” Townsend said.

On Tuesday, local priests and youth and community leaders are invited to eat lunch with students. Wednesday has been set aside for teacher appreciation, Mass is scheduled for Thursday, and activities Friday will simply celebrate the fact that it’s Friday.

Festivities will actually culminate a week later, at 6 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Vicksburg Convention Center, with the 27th annual Drawdown.

“This is one of our largest fundraisers,” Townsend said. “It’s a huge success.”

Tickets are $125, and include drinks and dinner for two adults and a chance to win $10,000. Insurance and add-ons for the base ticket are available. This year, a cruise for four is being offered at the Drawdown.

Tickets are drawn throughout the night, and the last number called wins the $10,000. Door prizes will also be given away during the event, which will feature a silent auction.

For the first time, participants can purchase tickets with a credit card online at www.vicksburgcatholic.org/drawdown. Tickets are also available at the school.

St. Aloysius seniors will provide child care services until 10 p.m. in the gym. Cost is $30 for one child and $10 for each additional child from pre-school through sixth grade. The deadline to sign up is Feb. 9.

Funds will benefit a year-end retreat and mission trip to New Orleans.

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchan@vicksburgpost.com