Basilica hosts end of the academic year Mass for the Basilica School of Saint Mary

The Basilica of Saint Mary hosted an end of the academic year Mass for the Basilica School of Saint Mary on June 9. Father Edward Hathaway, Rector of the Basilica, was the celebrant.

“You did so well despite this being such a strange second half of the school year with the pandemic going on,” said Father Hathaway during his homily. “Everyone seemed to rise to the occasion.”

“It has been a wonderful year and I feel truly blessed to be part of this community,” said Daniel Cinalli during his closing remarks. He is finishing up his first year as the school’s principal.

“The work that you all have done to continue your education at a distance has been truly inspiring,” said Cinalli.

Father Hathaway concluded his homily by saying, “Let’s entrust our whole school community, our seminarians, our principal, our teachers and our parents to the Mother of God, who loves us with a mother’s heart. We ask her to help us have a joyful summer in which we can continue to learn and offer our day to God, as she did every day.”

Sixth-grader Mary Kate Costello and and seventh-grader Sean Burke were lectors for the Mass. Diocese of Arlington Seminarians Joe Townsend and John Meyerhofer assisted as altar servers.

An album with photos of the Mass is available here.

A video of the Mass is below: