Alumni, students and their families gathered at All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas to celebrate Seton School’s 50th anniversary with a special Mass of Thanksgiving, celebrated by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, June 14.
In his homily, Bishop Burbidge commended school founder and Executive Director Anne Carroll for her dedication to Catholic education for more than half a century.
“We are profoundly grateful for the gift that Seton School has been and continues to be for our students, their families and our entire diocese,” he said. He added that Seton has produced more than well-educated graduates. “We see the number of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life coming from Seton School, and holy marriages and the servant leaders who go forth from Seton. Yes, you have found the most effective way to serve the church, by cultivating holiness.”
Some 11 clergy — including several alumni — joined Bishop Burbidge in concelebrating the Mass.
Just before the final blessing, Bishop Burbidge thanked the Seton School parents for their dedication and efforts to promote Catholic education. “You reflect so beautifully the duty that God gives to parents,” he said.
An impromptu reunion commenced outside the church after Mass. Families greeted the clergy and congratulated Carroll on the school’s milestone.
“We started with nothing,” Carroll said. “God, as I often say, he can make something out of nothing — the whole universe. And so he made the little Seton ‘universe.’ ”
Carroll said the school’s anniversary theme is “Blessings without number and mercy without end.”
“It’s just seeing how much God has done for us, and he’s done it through so many people,” she said. “He’s sent so many teachers and families and supporters.”
One notable alum was Father Joseph F. Moschetto, a graduate of the class of 2012, who becomes chaplain of Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria June 26. “The friendships I made at Seton are still some of my closest friendships today,” he said.
Father Moschetto said that all the teachers had an impact on him, but particularly Carroll. “I think I still have my senior religion notes from her class — it was so good,” he said.
“Something that really characterizes the school is that Christ is at the center of everything,” Father Moschetto said. “It’s their mission.”
