“We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee,” Father John P. Mosimann prompted, to which 425 students shouted in return, “Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world!”
Last week, Holy Cross Academy in Fredericksburg celebrated the feast of the Holy Cross, the school’s namesake, Sept. 14. The day kicked off with morning Mass, celebrated by Father Mosimann, pastor of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Fredericksburg, and concelebrated by Father Robert C. Renner, parochial vicar. In his homily, Father Mosimann said that the cross also reminds all to hope in Christ.
“Jesus allowed himself to be lifted up and gave himself for our victory, to show the greatest power of sin, which is death and suffering, is destroyed and overcome. And it becomes a sign of God’s victory for us. You can look upon the cross with joy, with hope, and see the triumph of God. Then you’ll know how to celebrate this feast,” he said.
Instead of a regular school day, Holy Cross created feast day activities that reflected themes of celebration, education and service.
“Today has special significance because this year we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Holy Cross Academy,” said Principal Stephen Fry.
The feast day activities are one of many events planned by the school to celebrate its 25th anniversary, such as a parish picnic at St. Mary with a fireworks display.
After Mass, students cycled through stations. Wearing celebratory school spiritwear, students made crafts, prayed at adoration, learned about the faith with FORMED videos and completed a service project.
Seventh and eighth graders gloved up for a trash cleanup service project on the school’s campus and along Stafford Lakes Parkway. Several eighth graders discovered some large items.
“We found a car!” several exclaimed, while holding up the pieces of a discarded car fender.
Meanwhile, kindergarten through sixth grade students created care packages to send to mothers with infants in Haiti. The packages included cloth diapers, onesies, changing pads, blankets, safety pins and wipes donated by school families.
Students enjoyed a feast day treat of Kona shaved ice during lunch. They also entered a raffle for religious and toy prizes donated by Father Mosimann. The day ended with a friendly match of volleyball between students and teachers.
“The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a chance for us to celebrate our students’ journey toward becoming saints, scholars and leaders,” Fry said.
