News & Announcements

PTO is SO excited to celebrate one of our favorite weeks of the year, Teacher Appreciation Week: 5-9 May (Mon-Fri). The Teacher Appreciation Committee has also prepared a brief guide for parents and students with daily, no-cost ideas to show appreciation for the faculty and staff next week. Check out the flyers below for a summary of next week's activities and events!

Bishop Burbidge invites all middle schoolers to join him at BASH 2025 at Bishop O'Connell on 10 May (Sat)! Although BASH is 3:30pm-8:30pm, this does not include travel time to/from DJO. BASH includes music, games, inspirational speakers, confessions, and a Vigil Mass with Bishop Burbidge. BASH is the Diocese's largest gathering of middle school students. They are expecting over 1,000 students! ALL participants' permission slips must be submitted to Mr. Benjamin Paczak at least 3 days prior to BASH. Link to register, additional info, and a POC are below.

STM is collecting canned food (no glass jars) for Catholic Charities' St. Lucy Food Project, which supports local pantries. Items most in need: Jam/Jelly, canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned meat, and boxed milk. STM's National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) will collect cans from homerooms and the truck will pick them up 30 May (Fri). The flyer, a POC, and additional info are below. Thank you for giving!

On 4 May (Sun) at 3:30pm the Cathedral Choir will perform the Easter portions of Handel's "Messiah". All are invited to this free concert and follow-on reception. It is a unique performance, as the Easter portions are less commonly performed than the Christmas ones. Fun Fact: the Hallelujah Chorus is actually part of the Easter section, even though it is often happily sung for Christmas. Flyer attached.

The Catholic Information Center (CIC) in Washington DC is hosting its annual Eucharistic Procession on 17 May (Sat). The day begins with 9:30am Mass and concludes with a procession bringing the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of D.C. Although all Catholics are welcome, First Communicants are invited to participate in a special way - leading the procession in First Communion outfits and throwing rose petals! A POC, summary video, and link for First Communicants
to RSVP are below.

On 20 May (Tue) our PTO and 4th Grade will conduct the "Let Them Eat Cake" Raffle, where 4th graders bring in cakes baked at home to be raffled off. To order raffle tickets until 11pm on 9 May (Fri) or learn the history of the phrase misattributed to Maire Antoinette, see below.

Please nominate an alum, who has given extraordinary service to STM or their community, for the Sister Maria Angelica Distinguished Alumni Service Award.  Sister Maria Angelica was the last nun at the Cathedral when the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) departed in the late 1990's, which is why the award is named after her. Nominations should list the year he/she graduated STM, be a testimonial of their service, be no more than 250 words, and emailed to Christine Hughes ([email protected]) by 8 May (Thr).  Winners will receive their award at the 8th Grade Graduation on 5 June (Thr). Previous winners are: Nelda Thomas '66, Sister Mary Sue Carwile '69, Jack Pierce '64, Larry Cerutti '65, and Genevieve McCarthy Kelly '93.  Pictures of Mr. Cerutti and Mrs. McCarthy Kelly being awarded are below.

STM's Vacation Bible School (VBS), which is 23-27 Jun (Mon-Fri) from 9am to 12pm, is only $100 at the following link.

Join hundreds from across the Diocese for a day of faith and fun! Bishop Burbidge will conduct 9am Mass at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Fredericksburg. After Mass, we will head to Kings Dominion and be ready to go when gates open at 11am! Tickets are only $38.50 and also include Soak City. The link register and POC are below.