Marian Catholic Celebrates Start Of Year With All-School Mass

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — Nearly 1,000 people gathered Friday morning at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights to spiritually kick off the new school year and celebrate being an in-person community.

Students, their parents, and faculty and staff celebrated the first Mass of the school year, while nearly 50 students led all who gathered by giving reflections about the day’s bible readings and serving as readers, ushers, Eucharistic ministers and choir members.

“After more than two years of nothing being truly normal in our students’ lives, it’s pure joy to be able to spiritually gather as one whole community and begin a new year like we did before the pandemic began,” said Steve Tortorello, Principal of Marian Catholic High School. “Gathering for Mass and giving thanks to God creates a true sense of connectedness, something that’s been difficult to find because of COVID.”

“Every student, no matter the grade, joining together at same time for the one purpose of celebrating our faith really builds our community,” said Peter Cavalieri, a senior at Marian Catholic who resides in Homewood. “Mass is especially important because it reminds us that, as individuals, we each have the job of serving and loving others, especially those people who are in greatest need.”

Marian Catholic High School is a Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory high school within the Dominican tradition of study, prayer, community, and preaching. Marian Catholic students seek truth, exhibit personal responsibility, cultivate their individual talents, and demonstrate ethical leadership and Christian service. Visit www.marianchs.com for more information.