Students from Father Andrew White, S.J. School in Leonardtown, Little Flower School in Great Mills, St. Michael’s School in Ridge, Mother Catherine Academy in Mechanicsville, and St. John’s School in Hollywood gathered at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Lexington Park, Maryland, for a Jan. 24 Mass for Catholic schools in St. Mary’s County. Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory celebrated the Mass, along with priests from the St. Mary’s Deanery including Father Marco Schad, the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.
The choir from St. Mary’s Ryken High School in Leonardtown led the singing at the Mass.
Cardinal Gregory began by telling those attending the Mass that “Catholic schools are where we learn to love God and love one another.” The annual Mass not only brings together Catholic schools from that county but also kicks off Catholic Schools Week for those schools.
In the reading at the Mass from the Gospel of Mark, Jesus tells the parable of the sower who had seeds fall on rocky paths and weeded areas that do not flourish, and only the seed that lands on rich soil does well and bears fruit.
During his homily, the cardinal explained the meaning of the parable.
“The sower goes out to spread the seed, which is the word of God. Sometimes, the seed falls in very difficult places, and it doesn't grow well. But then sometimes it falls in very fruitful places, and it produces a bountiful harvest,” Cardinal Gregory said.
Cardinal Gregory compared Jesus’ teaching through stories to how students are often taught by their teachers.
Old Testament readings at Mass in recent days have been about David, who is known for defeating the giant Philistine Goliath. David, who wanted a fixed home, had to learn that God had a different plan for him, which included his traveling to spread the faith.
“It’s important for us to realize that God wants to travel with us. God wants to go home with you,” Cardinal Gregory said.
Cardinal Gregory also shared with students that it was the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, who was the bishop of Geneva during the early 1600s and is the patron saint of writers.
“Jesus belongs in our schools,” Cardinal Gregory said. “I bet Ms. (Kelly) Branaman would say, ‘If He applied to be a teacher at one of our schools, we’d hire him!’ But He’s already here, and He’s already a part of our schools. It’s just a matter for us to learn how He unravels the mysteries of life.”
Kelly Branaman, the Secretary for Catholic Schools and Superintendent of Schools for The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, attended the Mass.
“I love the tradition of our schools in St. Mary’s County coming together as a community with Mass to begin Catholic Schools Week,” Branaman said after the Mass. “The Catholic Schools Week theme this year is Catholic Schools United in Faith and Community. Not only do we begin the celebration of Catholic Schools Week with the Eucharist and Cardinal Gregory, students are able to see and experience the larger Catholic community of the region.”
Susan McDonough, the principal of St. John’s School in Hollywood, helped organize the event this year.
"It's a true joy to have all of our Catholic schools in one place to celebrate the Eucharist, and what an honor to have Cardinal Gregory to celebrate the Mass," McDonough said.
