DeMatha’s Campus Ministry Office, known for approving students’ service hours, organizing tag days, and the annual Walk-a-Thon, kicked off the school’s yearly food drive on November 1. 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, and the community responded by bringing in a whopping 17,000 cans, showing 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, when the class of 2025 with be able to reflect on their time at DeMatha and bond with one another. In an interview, Fr. Josh Warshak said this will be “the last time you will gather as a class.”
Later, on December 8, 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, another during homeroom, a third during lunch, and the final one at the end of the day. These masses will be held in the school chapel for anyone who would like to attend. December 17 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.
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.
Campus Ministry recently unveiled the Service Club, which is another contribution of Mr. Snashall’s. It is a student-run service group which will help organize service projects in the Hyattsville area and will make the process of obtaining service hours easier for students. The three head students of the club are seniors Elijah Monk and Matthew Conlon and junior Lazarus McCarthy. The club currently has 11 members and is expected to grow as the year progresses.
