From Mrs. Goshe's Desk
Happy July!
Wow! We are already to July! It has been incredible to watch so many of our Irish students meet to continue to share faith. Please see the flyer below and the details to join the Summer Campus Ministry Group Me. Our recent graduates are also welcome to join us!
A group of parents have joined to walk and pray the rosary for the students, staff, families, and greater community of STVM on Wednesday mornings when it isn't raining. We meet at Sand Run Metro Park Path in the parking lot closest to Portage Path at 9:30am. We pray and walk for a mile and then chat as we walk the mile back. Join the GroupMe to stay up to date with meeting details and weekly plans—we would love to have you with us!
Please see the Mass at the Ballpark on August 9 at the Rubber Ducks Stadium information below. I have attend in past years and it has been great and very cool to celebrate Mass at the Ballpark!
The Kairos dates and Application for Kairos is found in a section below. I will be accepting applications beginning the first day of school. Please be sure to read the Kairos Dates Retreat section for the application and other important updates about Kairos.
Please be sure to mark your calendars for our Class Retreats. These retreats are a mandatory part of our curriculum and we ask that you do all that you can to not schedule appointments or vacations on these dates. Please see the section marked Save the Date Class Retreats for all the details.
Any rising senior who is an active Roman Catholic, attends Mass each weekend, and is Confirmed, can discern if they would like to become an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. In order to do this, you much complete this application and attend one of the diocesan training programs. If interested, please print and complete the application and email to me, Mrs. Goshe. I must register you for you to attend.
STVM is part of a greater Marianist Family! Please check out their latest Marianist Family publication here.
Peace and prayers,
Mrs. Goshe
Director of Campus Ministry
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.
Join St. Francis de Sales Parish for Mass at the Ballpark on Saturday, August 9, at 11:00 a.m. at Canal Park, home of the Akron RubberDucks. Celebrate the Eucharist in this unique setting with fellow parishioners and families from across the Akron area. To purchase tickets, click HERE. Interested in group rates? Contact Noah Finley at 330-375-1716.
Campus Ministry doesn’t pause when school is out—we believe ministry is year-round! This summer, we invite you to stay connected through a few meaningful opportunities to grow in faith and community.
Join us for Hallowed Grounds every Tuesday at 9:30am at a local coffee shop, where we’ll listen to a session from the Hallow App and reflect together in conversation.
On Thursdays at 11:00am, we’ll gather for Lectio Divina, praying with Scripture in a peaceful, reflective setting.
We are also looking for students willing to lead a Wednesday 5-minute prayer during the summer—sign up through the SignUpGenius link and review all instructions there. If you sign up, you’ll receive guidance ahead of your date.
To stay updated on locations, changes, or cancellations, please join our Campus Ministry Summer GroupMe. We’d love to stay connected with you throughout the summer!
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.
Any rising senior, who is an active Roman Catholic, attends Mass each weekend, and is Confirmed, can discern if they would like to become an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. In order to do this, you much complete this application and attend one of the diocesan training programs. If interested, please print and complete the application or visit Mrs. Goshe for more information.
Men discerning a possible vocation to the priesthood are invited to attend BBQ with the Bishop, typically held at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe, an opportunity to spend time with our Bishop in a relaxed and welcoming setting. This gathering offers a unique chance to ask questions, share conversation, and grow in understanding of the call to seminary life.
Guests will also meet current seminarians and hear firsthand about their daily routines, formation, prayer life, and experiences in seminary. It is a wonderful way to gain insight and encouragement while discerning where God may be calling you.
Please RSVP by July 28th by calling (440) 943-7631.
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.
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 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.
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!
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.
This month, nine STVM students had the incredible opportunity to attend Marianist Summer LIFE, a retreat hosted by the Marianists for high school students from Marianist schools across the country. Through prayer, fellowship, faith formation, and leadership development, our students deepened their relationship with Christ and prepared to serve as Marianist LIFE Leaders during the upcoming school year. We are excited to see how these students will use their gifts to help lead our Marianist LIFE community and continue building a culture of faith, service, and belonging at STVM!
June & July - Summer Faith Activities Dates TBD
Praise in the Park
July 24, 7-9:30pm, Burton Square. You and your teens are invited to join St. Helen, St. Edward and St Lucy parishes for an evening of praise and worship! Bring a blanket or chair, and be ready to join in worship lead by Collective Grace. Individual prayer will be offered as well. For more info, contact SS. Edward & Lucy Parish office at 440-548-3812.
Mass at the Ballpark
Join St. Francis de Sales Parish for Mass at the Ballpark on Saturday, August 9, at 11:00 a.m. at Canal Park, home of the Akron RubberDucks. Celebrate the Eucharist in this unique setting with fellow parishioners and families from across the Akron area. To purchase tickets, click HERE. Interested in group rates? Contact Noah Finley at 330-375-1716.
The Fest!
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.
Teens Encounter Christ Retreat
TEC is a weekend retreat with the primary goal of facilitating an encounter with Christ for those who are searching for deeper meaning, purpose, and hope in life, and who desire an authentic relationship with God within a community of believers. TEC is specifically designed for teens who are at least 17 years old or in their junior year of high school, although young adults and adults are also welcome to participate. A great option for those college-aged young adults home now! More info HERE.
TEC 149: October 9-11
Pope Leo's New Encyclical!!
In Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo urges us to help young Catholics stay “profoundly human” in the AI era: “the splendor of which no machine can ever replace” (15). In the digital world, youth need discernment (96) so platforms do not become tools of dominance or excessive distraction (136). Youth ministry must continue to “cultivate relationships,” preserving “physical presence” and “genuine closeness” (239). Technology can serve as an instrument of “growth, justice, and fraternity” (180), with education in “digital sobriety” to protect inner freedom (170). Finally, we are to call young people to become “weavers of hope” as the Holy Spirit brings about a “civilization of love in our lives” (245). Read the encyclical HERE.
Podcast of Bishop's Pastoral Letter
Have you had a chance to read Bishop Edward Malesic’s first pastoral letter, “A Flourishing Apostolic Church?” If not, you can listen to it as a podcast by clicking HERE. Six episodes, ranging in length from just over nine to 15½ minutes, were recorded by the bishop. The document, released in December 2024, encourages the faithful of the Diocese of Cleveland to spend at least 15 minutes daily in prayer, to worship/celebrate the sacraments and to serve those in need.
USCCB Updated Preface
Create in Me a Pure Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography
The U.S. Catholic Bishops have released a new 10th anniversary preface to the Church’s response to pornography, offering fresh recommendations for parents, clergy, educators, and civil leaders on combatting porn’s influence in an age of increased social isolation and the rise of artificial intelligence.
Vocation Office Events
2025-2026
Mark your calendars to build a culture of vocations for your youth this next ministry year! The 2025-2026 Vocation Office Events include R&Rs, come and see dates, BBQ with the Bishop, the Priest vs Seminarian Basketball Game and more! Check it out HERE.
MISSION - Teach, share, support, and live the Mission of St. Vincent- St. Mary and the Marianist Characteristics of Education with an emphasis on invitation and hospitality.
VISION - Every day, every person, every interaction, an encounter with Christ.
THEME (22-27 school year) - Made for More - based on John 10:10 - "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."