Catholic schools around the country celebrated Catholic Schools Week Jan. 30-Feb. 5, and the two Catholic schools in Bangor had an extra reason to be proud. They garnered 11 of 12 prizes awarded Feb. 4 by Frances Dighton Williams Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, in the annual DAR American History Essay Contest. St. Mary’s won three of the four first-place honors with essays on immigration titled “Coming to America.”

First-place winners were: grade five, Carrie Michaud, St. Mary’s School; grade six, Tyler Therriault, St. Mary’s; grade seven, Maurycy Rak, St. Mary’s; and grade eight, Nicole Ann Goss, St. John’s, Bangor.

Second-place winners were: grade five, Adam Martin, St. Mary’s; grade six, Elizabeth Lucarelli, St. Mary’s; grade seven, Anthony Tremble, St. John’s; and grade eight, Scott Tremble, St. John’s.

Third-place winnere were: grade five, Jonathan Josefowicz, St. Mary’s; grade six, Cezary Rak, St. Mary’s; grade seven, Megan Brewster, Weatherbee School, Hampden; and grade eight, Andrew Scott, St. John’s.

First-place winners read their essays and were presented with medals by Louise Towle, regent, and Esther Hillman, vice regent. The chapter chairman is Beverly Shepard.

According to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, the first Maine Catholic school was opened 130 years ago. Today, there are 4,158 pupils in kindergarten through grade eight in Catholic elementary schools.

“Additionally, there are three Catholic high schools,” said Sister Rosemary Donohue, superintendent, “one diocesan, two privately sponsored.”

The week’s activities helped to spread the good news about Catholic schools, she said. “We need to redouble our efforts to bring the facts about our schools — the quality academic courses, the excellent performance of our students on national tests, the persistent and ongoing involvement in Christian service activities, the outstanding career track records of our graduates — to the attention of people who do not know us.”