Episode 668: Faith Matters for the Basilica School of Saint Mary's September 11th Messenger Newsletter

Sep 11, 2025

Faith Matters is a weekly podcast for the Messenger newsletter of the Basilica School of Saint Mary, which gets distributed to Basilica School families. It features Father Edward Hathaway, the rector of the Basilica. In this week’s episode, Fr. Hathaway talks about the power and significance of the Cross, as he reflects on Sunday, September 14, being the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. 

Father Hathaway also invited parishioners to  be a part our Sept. 26th pilgrimage to Port Tobacco, as the oldest Catholic parish in Virginia — our Basilica— visits the oldest active Catholic parish in Maryland. This parish pilgrimage to historic Catholic sites in Maryland is part of us celebrating our 230th parish anniversary. Space is limited. Price of the $65 ticket includes bus transportation and lunch.Buy yours today by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4nmJ05d

He also shared that this weekend there will be a relationship health assessment survey using your phone will be occurring during all the Sunday Masses on September 13-14 and September 20-21. All replies will be anonymous. 

 

The survey is an important part of our partnership with Communio, a non-profit organization that trains and equips churches to evangelize through the renewal of healthy relationships, marriages, and the family. The surveys will generate a customized, academically rigorous report on the marriage, family, and relationship dynamics of all the adults in our parish.

 

This report will be a key input that will inform a three-year mission plan for our parish with the goal of building a culture of marriage and relationship health in our parish church that allows us to evangelize our community through the renewal of marriage and family life. 

 

If you attend Mass this weekend, please bring your phone. Paper surveys will also be available in the pews.