St. Mary School students attend Mass every week. School Mass is considered by many who attend to be one of the most moving experiences due to the involvement of the children. If you have not had the privilege of attending a School Mass in the past, please join us! Students are very involved in the celebration of the Mass in many ways:

The third through twelfth grades “host” School Mass on a rotating basis. Students in the hosting class serve as greeters, ushers, lectors, altar servers, gift bearers, and responsorial banner holders.

Students in the high school, middle school, and elementary choirs participate in the music ministry with special music selections, including choir-performed songs, small groups, duets, and solos. They also serve as song leaders (high school and middle school choir members).

Students with other musical talents periodically share their gifts at School Mass. Student musicians primarily include pianists and guitarists but other brass and woodwind instrumentalists have also performed.

Seniors serve as eucharistic ministers following training and certification by the priest.

Following First Holy Communion and Confirmation (usually in early May), the second grade typically host one Mass prior to the end of the school year.

“School Mass” is every Wednesday at 10am. The day and time can and does change due to Holy Days of Obligation, funerals, changes in Fr. Michael’s availability for the week, changes in the school schedule, etc. While every attempt is made to print the daily Mass schedule in the bulletin each week (the bulletins can be viewed from the St. Mary Parish link above right), you are encouraged to call the school office at 256-9636 or parish office at 256-9676 to confirm School Mass times before you travel if there is any question as to Mass day and/or time. If school is closed due to weather, there will be no Mass that day, whether it was School Mass or a “regular” weekday Mass and regardless of the scheduled Mass times (i.e. evening Mass will remain cancelled even if the road conditions improve). Please do not travel in inclement weather!

Note: When there is no School Mass on Wednesday (vacation, School Mass moved to a different day due to a Holy Day of Obligation, etc.), then Wednesday Mass will be held at 8:15am. Again, please call the Parish Office at 256-9676 if there is any question as to Mass times!

Upcoming School Mass Schedule: (Please see the calendar for the most up-to-date information on School Masses!!)

10 a.m. – Wednesday every week unless listed differently on the School Calendar – also check the home page for notices of last minute changes.

Month of October – 9:45 a.m. – Rosary will be prayed prior to 10 a.m. Mass in honor of The Month of the Rosary.

9:45 a.m. – month of May – Rosary will be prayed prior to 10 a.m. Mass in honor of The Month of Mary.

There are several annual events that are celebrated in conjuction with School Mass:

During the months of October (The Month of the Holy Rosary) and May (The Month of Mary), School Mass begins 15 minutes early, during which time the Rosary is prayed. Classes take turns leading the decades.

All Saints’ Day (November 1) is a Holy Day of Obligation. Traditionally, the fourth grade students host the All Saints’ Day Mass, dressed as their favorite Saints. After completing reports about their Saints in class, the students choose highlights of their Saint reports and share that information with the Parish at the end of the Mass. If November 1st falls on a weekend, the fourth grade celebration of the Saints is held during the last School Mass of October or the first School Mass of November.

At the Thanksgiving School Mass (normally held on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving), students usually bring food offerings for the local food pantry.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8th) is a Holy Day of Obligation. School Mass is held on Dec. 8 unless it falls on a weekend.

Although not a Holy Day of Obligation, the Memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patron Saint of the Americas, has become a traditional School Mass (on or near the December 12th memorial date) in which the Spanish and Music Instructors work together with the students in preparation of celebrating the Mass partly in Spanish. Hymns, readings, Responsorial Psalms, and The Lord’s Prayer are typically in Spanish. On occasion, a bilingual priest has been available to concelebrate the Mass. Programs are provided to help parishioners participate. If Our Lady of Guadalupe conflicts with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Holy Day of Obligation will obviously take precedence.

St. Mary School National Honor Society Induction is held immediately following a School Mass in December.

School Mass is always celebrated on Ash Wednesday to begin the Lenten season.

“May Crowning” is celebrated at the first School Mass in May, The Month of Mary. Following School Mass, students, staff, and parishioners process to the statue of Mary in front of the school. A small ceremony is held in honor of Mary, the Patron Saint of our school. Mary is crowned with a wreath of flowers, traditionally by two second grade students. Students in all grades bring flowers to lay around the foot of Mary.

In addition to School Mass, students are also given the opportunity to participate in Adoration when it is held on a school day and students attend a prayer service of Reconciliation twice a year – during Advent and Lent. These Reconciliation services are held specifically for St. Mary School students in grades 3-12. Second graders usually celebrate their First Reconciliation in December and therefore participate only in the Lenten service during their second grade year.