What We’ve Heard — Feb. 3, 2025

(Photo submitted by Donna Henry)

Spreading school spirit (above): Ambassadors for Portsmouth Catholic Regional School were out on mission ahead of Catholic Schools Week. More than 50 students and parents spoke at Masses and handed out flyers and treats to promote their school. In addition to speaking at parishes in Chesapeake, Franklin, Portsmouth, and Suffolk, some students also visited churches of other denominations to speak about the goodness of Catholic schools.

 

Redeemer’s Angels support religious vocations (below): Redeemer’s Angels Court #2456 is supporting religious vocations through two programs: “Sponsoring a Seminarian” and “Convent Care.” With the former, Redeemer’s Angels sponsored two seminarians, Aventon Grimes and David Hairston. Through their “Convent Care” initiative, Redeemer’s Angels donated food, personal hygiene products and cleaning supplies to the Poor Clares of Barhamsville at the Bethlehem Monastery, a cloistered nun community.

(Photo submitted by Marybeth Maino)
Two Redeemer’s Angels with Seminarian David Hairston. (Photo submitted by Marybeth Maino)

 

Baby shower for Blessed Mother: More than 30 women who are part of the Women Walking in Faith ministry gathered in December to host a “Baby Shower for the Blessed Mother Mary.” Each attendee brought food that reminded them of their childhood holidays. This ministry consists of women from Church of the Redeemer, Mechanicsville, and St. Ann, Ashland.

All baby shower donations were donated to Commonwealth Catholic Charities, to support parents and children in need in the central Virginia area.

(Photo submitted by Marybeth Maino)

 

(Photo submitted by Deidra Kopacki)

Scout on station (right): Eagle Scout Mason Kopacki, of Troop 340 in King and Queen County, completed a renewal of the area adjacent to the parking lot of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, West Point. Mason constructed outdoor Stations of the Cross, a gravel path, a cross and surrounding wall, and added solar lights. He led this year-long project with help from fellow scouts, parishioners, and members of the community.

 

 

Spiritual stage play debut (below): The youth of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk, along with their families and other parishioners, took part in the debut of a stage play and puppet show on Dec. 29, 2024. Darlene Green, a parishioner who specializes in puppet shows, helped with the performance of “The Advent Angel,” which was about the true meaning of the Advent season.

(Photo submitted by Darlene Green)

 

Top spellers at Diocesan Bee: Elizabeth Whittle, seventh grader at Charlottesville Catholic School, is a back-to-back champion.

Whittle won the 2025 Diocesan Spelling Bee at the Pastoral Center, Richmond, Jan. 23, defending her 2024 title. After 21 rounds, the winning word was “asylum.”

The top spellers from each region advance to regional spelling bees. Whittle will advance to the Richmond Raceway Regional Spelling Bee as Southwest region champion; she will be joined by Central region champion Josie Walsh, sixth grader at St. Edward-Epiphany School, Richmond. Tidewater region champion Jonathan De La Cruz, eighth grader at St. Pius X School, Norfolk, will advance to the Hampton Roads Regional Spelling Bee.

 

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