An Update on our School

01-21-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

St. Mary’s Catholic School has been back in session for about three weeks now. Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year has begun, and interest is high at this point! If you have a child that you wish to enroll, please pick up an application located at the school office, in the narthex, or online at excelatstmarys.com. If you would like to find out more information first and learn more about our school, please call the school office to schedule a tour or visit the next open house on Friday, February 2nd from 9 am to 11 am. All active parishioners automatically receive tuition discounts and have access to payment plans. If you desire additional tuition assistance, please apply early!

Our school has a long and rich history, and our future is bright. In 1901, the Ursuline Nuns opened our school, and it was called Saint Angela Academy. School operations were turned over to the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy in 1906. While celebrating our parish’s 100th anniversary in 1953, our parish began a campaign to purchase the school building from the sisters, as they were beginning construction on a new high school on Berrie Road. The building the parish purchased still stands today on York Street. In 1955, the high school opened and kept the St. Angela Academy name, while administration of the grade school was handed off to Saint Mary Help of Christians Parish. Over the next almost 70 years our parish school has continued to grow and thrive.

We now look forward to future generations of students that we will be blessed to educate in the Catholic faith. Our new STEM Center is on track for completion this summer! It is now 40% complete; cement blocks are rising to the second floor and steel girders are being put into place. This historic project will propel us forward into the future to meet the needs of our students in our changing world, giving them the foundation to excel in today’s technology-driven careers while keeping them firmly rooted in the Catholic faith. For the 2025-2026 school year, I am pleased to announce that we are making plans to add a 3K and a 4K preschool program! More detail will be shared in the coming months.

Finally, the school’s students, teachers, and staff want to thank you for your amazing support in our National #iGIVECATHOLIC Day! We surpassed our goal and raised a total of $61,780! We truly appreciate your support and prayers! The #iGIVECATHOLIC Day is held annually, and this year we raised the 3rd highest amount in the Diocese of Charleston and placed 55th in the whole nation!

Please continue to pray and support our excellent Catholic school.

All the best…in Christ, Father Wilson