Each year, class retreats are an important part of the STVM experience and provide students with dedicated time to grow in faith, strengthen relationships, and reflect alongside their classmates. Please note that retreat dates are subject to change, but we wanted to share them now so families can begin planning ahead.

Current retreat dates are:

• Senior Retreat: Tuesday, September 15

• Sophomore Retreat: Thursday, October 22

• Freshman Retreat: Friday, January 8

• Junior Retreat: Tuesday, February 23

Class retreats take place during normal school hours and attendance is required. Please mark these dates on your calendar to help ensure your student is able to participate in their retreat experience.

Parent letters and permission slips will be sent out as we get closer to each retreat date.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Goshe.

Seniors and Juniors, I wanted to share the Kairos Retreat dates for the 2026-27 school year. They are as follows:

• Kairos 55 (Seniors Only) – November 8-11, 2026  -Application Deadline: October 9, 2026

• Kairos 56 (Juniors & Seniors) – January 17-20, 2027 - Application Deadline: December 11, 2026

• Kairos 57 (Juniors & Seniors) – March 30-April 2, 2027 - Application Deadline: March 5, 2027

Here is the Kairos Application.  You can begin to turn those in on the first day of school. I will not be able to accept them prior to the first day.   Besides dates, I wanted to share that the cost at Loyola Retreat House, where we hold Kairos,  has increased. This means that our student cost to attend retreat has also had to increase.  The cost will now be $300.  This increase covers the cost of the retreat house and the meals.  The extra things like transportation, t-shirts, and supplies will be covered by STVM.  I am giving lots of notice so all are able to begin to save if needed.  If a student wants to attend but is in need of scholarship to cover some of the cost, a parent or guardian should reach out to Mrs. Goshe.  

Have you seen our new Mary Prayer Garden?  It is next to the newly renovated entrance to the VanDevere Family Stadium.  It a beautiful place to stop for a visit or to say the rosary.  Campus Ministry is making plans on how to use this garden! What a blessing! Blessed Mother Mary...Pray for us!

Christian Service Program Update for 2026-2027 School Year 

We are excited to share that the Class of 2030 will be the first group of students to participate in our newly- redesigned Christian Service Program at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School.

This updated program has been thoughtfully created to provide students with more meaningful and accessible service opportunities that are integrated into the school day and throughout the school year. Rooted in our Catholic mission and inspired by Matthew 25 — “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” — this new approach is designed to help students better understand the importance of serving others with compassion, humility, and purpose.

Because of this new structure, students in the Class of 2030 will 1) have a reduced service-hour requirement compared to previous classes and 2) complete their service requirements during school hours over the course of the school year. There is nothing that students/families of the Class of 2030 need to complete over the summer regarding service hours. Additional details and expectations will be shared with students and families in August once the school year begins.

Please note that students in the Classes of 2027, 2028, and 2029 will continue to follow the current Christian Service Program requirements and must complete 25 service hours each school year to fulfill the Christian Service component of their graduation requirements. As part of the current program, students in these classes may continue to complete service hours over the summer, as they have done in previous years.

We are excited to launch this new initiative with our incoming freshmen and look forward to the many ways it will help students grow in faith, leadership, and service to others.

We are excited to introduce our Marianist LIFE Leaders for the 2026–2027 school year! We are incredibly grateful for these outstanding student leaders who have said yes to helping lead their peers in faith and build a stronger Catholic community at STVM. This summer, our new LIFE Leaders will attend Marianist LIFE, where they will grow in their leadership skills, deepen their faith, and connect with students from Marianist high schools across the country as they prepare for the year ahead.

Pictured (back row, left to right): Ben Nichols, Dominic Ebner, Noelle Keso, Devanand Brickman, Eddie McNea, Danny McKnight. Front row (left to right): Jordan Large, Emerson Huber, Grace VanOss, Grace Keso, Lily Beke. Not pictured: Abby McCarron, Allison Hansen, and Karlen Clark.

We always welcome new volunteers for the Marianist LIFE Meal Ministry! Each month, a group of parents puts together a meal for the students to enjoy before their meeting. Here's a great article in the Marianist publication Alive, about how the brothers provide meals and fellowship to students at Marianist-sponsored universities, including the popular spaghetti dinners at the University of Dayton. Our meal ministry here at STVM is similar in spirit!

Please email Barbara McKnight at mcknighteb@windstream.net  to join this year's group, be put on the SignUp mailing list or if you have any questions. 

August 15, 12-10pm, Forefront Field, Avon. Note that the day and the venue have changed for this year's event! The FEST features a lineup of talented Christian artists and bands, including CAIN, Matt Maher, and Riley Clemmens. There will be arts and crafts for children, inflatables, entertainment and displays, plus Adoration and Confession. An evening Mass and fireworks will close out the day. Cost is $10 per person, plus fees of $1.50 per ticket. Get more details HERE.

Seniors, did you know that if you are Catholic and want to keep growing in your Catholic faith while in college, there are folks on most campuses wanting to accompany you, just like Mrs. Goshe and Mrs. Cooper here at STVM? To get connected where you are headed, click HERE. The form is pretty self-explanatory, but if you need any help, please come see Mrs. Goshe or Mrs. Cooper in Campus Ministry. 

Extraordinary Jubilee Year of St. Francis

Pope Leo XIV has announced back-to-back jubilees!  The Extraordinary Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, marking 800 years since his death, runs from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027. During this time, the faithful have the opportunity to obtain plenary indulgences (a special grace of God’s mercy) under the usual conditions - Sacramental Confession, detachment from sin, Eucharist, and prayer for the intentions of the pope - by making a pilgrimage to any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis anywhere in the world.

Our diocesan webpage for the year of St. Francis is live. Please invite youth and young adults to download their passport and make pilgrimage to the nine sites!