DeMatha’s Campus Ministry office, known for approving students’ service hours, tag days, and the walk-a-thon that kicked off the yearly food drive on November 1st. This year’s goal is a total of 13,000 cans, which will go to local food pantries and Little Sisters of the Poor, located at the National Shrine. Last year’s goal was 12,000 cans, which resulted in a whopping 17,000 cans being brought in showing that this year’s goal is more than doable. As usual, if the goal is met, the school will receive the day after Thanksgiving off. Following this, the senior retreat will take place the Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, where the class of 2025 with be able to reflect on their time at DeMatha and bond. In an interview, Fr. Josh Warshak said this will be “the last time you will gather as a class”.
Later, on December 8th, the school will celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a school wide mass will not be held. Rather, there will be four short masses throughout the day one in the morning, during homeroom, during lunch, and the end of the day. These masses will be held in the school chapel for anyone who would like to attend. December 17th is St. John DeMatha Day where we honor our school patron with mass. There will be caroling in the halls as well as free food, and around this time the toy drive will be held, which will support the same organizations as the previous Food Drive in November.
Mr. Snashall, the newest member of the Campus Ministry office plans to organize confessions during the time of Advent. “Whether it be once or twice a week we want to ensure there is continuous confession during the season of Advent,” Mr. Snashall said in an interview. Campus Ministry unveiled the Service Club which is another contribution of Mr. Snashall. It is a student-run service group which will help organize service projects in the Hyattsville area and will help make the process of obtaining service hours easier for students.
The three head students of the club are Elijah Monk and Matthew Conlon, both class of ‘25, as well as Lazarus McCarthy class of ‘26. The club currently has 11 members and is expected to grow as the year progresses.
