Our Adopt-a-Family initiative was once again a beautiful reminder of the generosity and compassion of our STVM community. This year, we were able to provide all of the gifts on each family’s Christmas wish list, along with an additional $200 in gift cards for each of our 12 families.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our students, parents, and staff who purchased gifts and helped wrap them during Innovation. Your time and generosity made a tremendous impact. Thank you as well to our Front Office, who created the most adorable stockings for all of the children. 

A very big and special thank you goes to our STVM Parents' Club and alumni, who so generously raised and donated $1,500 to help provide gifts and gift cards for our families. Your support truly made this initiative possible.

This is another beautiful end to our annual Adopt-a-Family program. Please continue to keep these families in your prayers as we journey through this Advent season and enter into the joy of Christmas.

Kairos Retreat is a retreat that truly celebrates and culminates our seniors' time here at STVM. It is an experience that many of our past seniors have shared was their best experience at STVM. Kairos means "God's Time" and is a retreat led by students for students. The talks and exercises of this retreat center around the revelation of God's love as we experience it in our lives. Adults participate as co-workers with the student team that is built from previous attendees of a Kairos retreat. These 4 day/3 night retreats are held at Loyola Retreat House in Clinton, OH.

The remaining dates for Kairos Retreats this year are:

• January 18 - 21, 2026: Seniors & Juniors (deadline for application and payment: Dec. 19)

• March 22 - 25, 2026: Seniors & Juniors (deadline for application and payment: Feb. 27)

Kairos applications are here to print with more info on Kairos.  Please email Mrs. Goshe with any questions..

Jesus, in his three years of public ministry, picked the 12 apostles to accompany him. Marianist Founder, Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, knew that new times called for new measures and worked to form small groups (or sodalities) of lay people to accompany and support each other in their journey of faith. The most current research in Youth Ministry states that relationship and authentic accompaniment are an incredible means to help grow a disciple of Christ for life.

In light of this, Campus Ministry is seeking students interested in forming small faith sharing groups. The groups will be single-sex groups of 5 to no more than 8. The groups will commit to meeting for one hour, once per week. A Catholic mentor from outside the STVM community will, after receiving both ministry training and VIRTUS (the Diocesan program, Protecting God's Children) training, journey in faith with the small group. Groups will do an initial study and then, working with their mentor, determine the next faith step activity.

Students interested in learning more or becoming a member of a Sodality Small Faith Sharing Group should complete this google form. If any students or parents have any questions about this endeavor, please email Mrs. Goshe.

Alive Marianist Magazine

Discover new, inspiring stories from our Marianist Family in the latest edition of ALIVE Magazine, now available online.

Click Here to READ. 

In This Issue:

• Senior Marianists from around the country celebrate their legacy and look to the future.

• Fifth graders get a taste of college life at Chaminade University of Honolulu.

• Young adults travel to Rome with Fr. Bob to witness and share their faith.

• Bro. Brian Zampier shares the coconut cookie recipe from his family's bakery

• and more...

Prayer Opportunities

Campus Ministry would like to continue to increase the number of opportunities offered to pray together. We will be trying the following schedule during the 1st Quarter. If you are interested in learning more about any of these opportunities, please email Mrs. Goshe.

Tuesday - Sign up for a Bible Study during your Lunch Time (email Mrs. Goshe if interested)

Wednesday - 5 Minute Prayer in the LRC immediately after school

Thursday - Lectio Divina/Scripture Study during lunches in Campus Ministry Office

Friday - First Friday Masses at 7:15, every other Friday Rosary at 7:25am. Adoration 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month (parents welcome).

If you have any suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Goshe with your ideas.

Advent Marianst Prayer

Mary, inspired by your readiness to accept all that God would work in you, we offer you our hearts and lives so that we too might bring forth into our world Jesus, the Savior. May we be humble and compassionate and come to say as you did, “Behold the servant of the Lord.” Amen 

Marianists believe that Mary is the perfect model of discipleship. She shows us how to love, trust, and follow Jesus better than any other human being. She also encourages us to "Do whatever He tells you." John 2:5.

To learn more about the Marianist Family, please check out their latest Family magazine here. 

It is important to understand why we, as Catholics, hold Mary in high esteem, call her our Mother, and ask for her intercession. This short video with Fr. Mike Schmitz gives a good introduction and explanation to help us to understand our relationship with Mary.

Here is a link to other resources about Mary, how to pray with Mary, Marian Feast days, and activities to celebrate Mary. 

We invite and encourage you to download the Marianist App for lots of great resources and information.

This article will also help you get to know Blessed William Joseph Chaminade better. 

• SUPPLY SNACKS: for our Campus Ministry Office (granola bars, bags of chips, and fruit snacks are wildly popular). Please consider sending us a box or two of granola bars, etc. Donations may be dropped off to the Main Office; please clearly label for Campus Ministry. THANK YOU!

• DONATE CASH/FOOD: for Marianist LIFE Nights. Email Barbara McKnight if interested.

A heartfelt thank you to all the parents who helped out and donated for the Advent Marianist LIFE meeting. Your support is so appreciated in this important ministry. Save the date for Thursday Jan. 29, 2026 for the next LIFE Night. We will need sweet treats to enjoy in fellowship after an evening of Adoration. Wishing you a very peaceful and blessed Christmas season.

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. 

Please reach out to Mrs. Goshe if there is something you and your family would like to do to support Emma and her mom. Please continue to help by praying unceasingly. 

Dec. 20 - Christmas Break Begins

Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve

Dec. 25 - Christmas

Jan. 6 - School Resumes 

Jan. 9 - Freshman Retreat 

Jan. 18-21 - Kairos 53

Jan. 23 - Mass for Life - St. John Cathedral

Jan. 29 - Whole School Mass - 10:30am

Jan. 29 - Marianist Life Night of Adoration, Praise, and Worship