Celebrating a Sept. 2 back-to-school Mass at San Miguel School in Washington, D.C., Cardinal Wilton Gregory urged  students at the all-boys middle school to take advantage of the educational opportunities the school offers them.

“Right here in this school there are the wonderful possibilities and the opportunities to be successful, to be real winners, to be young men with great futures and with great possibilities,” the cardinal said.

Founded in 2002, San Miguel is an independent, tuition-free Catholic school for boys in the sixth- through eight-grades. It was founded to address the problem of Latino boys from low-income homes who were not performing well in school. About 90 boys attend the school.

Concelebrating the Mass with Cardinal Gregory was Msgr. John Enzler, CEO and president of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Washington and a member of the San Miguel School Board of Trustees. The Mass was the first Mass that students and faculty could attend together since the start of the pandemic 18 months ago.

Referencing the Mass’s Gospel readings from Luke (5:1-11) in which Jesus calls Simon Peter to be a fisher of men, Cardinal Gregory noted that “today we would say fishers of people, rather than fishers of men because Jesus calls the entire community – men and women – to enter His kingdom.”

The cardinal pointed out that the early disciples “were fishermen and not always the best fishermen” and that did not change until Jesus entered their lives.

“That is a great lesson for all of us because we know with Jesus we are going to be successful in ways that we probably never even imagined,” Cardinal Gregory said. “I hope that reflects on what happens this year at San Miguel – that you will be successful in ways that you probably don’t even imagine right now.”

During the Mass, the cardinal urged the students to “thank the Lord for first of all being present with us; second of all for giving us possibilities and hope and a future; and then finally let’s ask the Lord that
He will make us generous to bring others to Him.”

Making his first visit to San Miguel School since he was named archbishop of Washington in 2019, Cardinal Gregory was greeted at the school’s Georgia Avenue entrance by Edward J. Quinn, San Miguel School Board of Trustees chairman; Maureen Appel, president of the school; and David Palank, principal.

“The people who greeted me said in so many ways, ‘I am sure you are going to meet the best young men on Georgia Avenue,’” Cardinal Gregory told the young men at the Mass. “And I’ve got to think they are right.”

At the end of the Mass, the cardinal reminded the students that “we begin the school year with a lot of enthusiasm and hope,” and offered a blessing calling on the Spirit of wisdom to “look upon these students, let them enjoy their learning and take delight in new discoveries.”

He also prayed for teachers that they “strive to share their knowledge with gentle patience.”

After Mass, Cardinal Gregory toured San Miguel School and greeted students and faculty who watched the ceremony from their classrooms.