A candle to remember each child (above): At St. Stephen, Martyr, Chesapeake, 94 candles are lit and placed in front of the altar to honor children lost to miscarriage, still birth, abortion, illness and injury. The 94 children were honored by name during a Mass of Remembrance celebrated by Father Charles Ssebalamu, pastor of St. Stephen, Martyr, on Oct. 10.
Monarchs take flight with NASA (below): For the third time this year, St. Mary’s School, Richmond, is competing in a NASA challenge. This time, it’s the 31st annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge. A team of 28 St. Mary’s students from grades 6, 7 and 8 will design and build a rover that will navigate an obstacle course that simulates conditions on the moon and on Mars.
There were 75 schools selected to compete, mostly high schools and universities. St. Mary’s is one of two middle schools and the only one in the U.S. selected. The only other middle school team selected, said technology teacher Peter Tlusty, is a school for aerospace technology in Germany.
When the announcement was made Oct. 3, Tlusty said he was proud of the kids for writing the 10-page proposal required to be considered for selection in the competition.
“The kids did the work – I’ve just got to steer them in the right direction, and they roll with it,” said Tlusty.
The students are now working on a design review report that will be presented to a NASA team and are seeking corporate sponsorship for the rover. The final competition is April 11-12, 2025, at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Hispanic culture connection (below): The third annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration at Peninsula Catholic High School, Newport News, was “a little different this year,” said Lisanette Torres, the school’s Hispanic representative.
What began as a celebration during school hours has grown into a nighttime celebration that included about 85 parents, students and faculty. This year, participation was at an all-time high despite stormy weather Sept. 27, spurred by live music, a ceremony for the Spanish Honor Society, and a potluck with dishes from countries throughout Latin America.
“We had the whole cafeteria full,” said Torres. “We sang traditional music, we danced with students, we ate great food. The students had fun. That’s the point, that Hispanic students feel comfortable sharing their culture.”
Our Lady of Fátima honored (right): For the second straight year, St. Charles Borromeo, Cape Charles, participated in America Needs Fátima, a special campaign to spread the message of Our Lady of Fátima. The faithful gathered at the parish Oct. 12 to pray the rosary, sing Marian hymns, and recite the Litany of the Blessed Mother, the Divine Praises, and the Angelus. The event was organized by the Knights of Columbus Council #14263.
Homemade for hurricane relief (below): Middle school students at Charlottesville Catholic School contributed to the diocese’s special collection for Hurricane Helene relief. Inspired by Bishop Barry C. Knestout’s call to “reflect on how each of us can extend a hand to our brothers and sisters,” students in the elective class “Faith in Action” held a bake sale Oct. 9-11. In all, $1,267 was raised for the special collection held Oct. 12-13, which benefited storm victims in our diocese, as well as the dioceses of Charlotte and Knoxville.
Senior knights celebrated (below): More than 20 members of the Knights of Columbus Council #8240 gathered at Bickford Assisted Living in Virginia Beach on Sept. 26 to celebrate senior knights Walter Quigley and Jack Gorman. The two men were honored at dinner and, said Knight Ed Monacchio, the group “enjoyed faith, fellowship and a wonderful pizza feast.” Quigley and Gorman are longtime parishioners of Prince of Peace, Chesapeake, where Council #8240 is based, and are the two most senior knights on the council.
