Basilica of Saint Mary Podcast

Faith Matters is a weekly podcast for the Messenger newsletter of the Basilica School of Saint Mary, which gets distributed to Basilica School families. It features Father Edward Hathaway, the rector of the Basilica. In this week's episode, he shares about the importance of following the Beatitudes, as they are pathways to encounter happiness, conversion and holiness. 
He also shared about some changes in the schedule of upcoming events, due to the frigid, icy weather: 
+ The Catholic Schools Week Family Mass has been rescheduled from this Sunday morning to Sunday, Feb. 22, at 8:30 a.m., and the viewing for the new, permanent display on Catholic education at the Basilica School has been rescheduled from this Sunday to Feb. 22 from 9:30-11 a.m.
 

+ The Catholic Daughters' Family Bingo Night -- originally scheduled for this Friday evening, Jan. 30 -- has been rescheduled to occur on Saturday, February 28, at the Basilica School gym from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Faith Matters is a weekly podcast for the Messenger newsletter of the Basilica School of Saint Mary, which gets distributed to Basilica School families. It features Father Edward Hathaway, the rector of the Basilica. In this week's episode, he shares about the importance of Catholic education. The Basilica School will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week, which starts this Sunday. 
Here is Pope Leo XIV's Apostolic Letter, called "Drawing New Maps of Hope," on the subject of Catholic education, which Father Hathaway mentions in this episode. To read it, please click here. 
In other news, we hope you are able to join us at the March for Life on tomorrow, Jan. 23, as we travel by Metro to D.C. We will meet at the King Street Metro Station in Alexandria between 11:30-11:50 a.m. and leave on the train that leaves the station close to 12 (noon). If you can't make it to the march in D.C., please join us in the Basilica church to pray with us as there will be a Holy Hour and a Rosary for Life from 11 a.m.-noon tomorrow. 
 
Also, all Basilica School families are invited to join us for the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, February 1. Following that Mass, families are then invited to the school grounds for what will serve as our closing celebration of Catholic Schools Week. This gathering will include a light continental breakfast, tours of the new Christ Yesterday and Today exhibit -- a new, permanent display highlighting the history of Catholic education from 9:45 a.m. until 2 p.m. -- and time to visit the Book Fair.

In this episode, Steve Weidenkopf, an Adjunct Professor at the Christendom College Graduate School of Theology, shares a preview of his five-part series chronicling Church history, which begins Feb. 3, 2026, in our Lyceum Auditorium (313 Duke Street). This series presents a narrative summary of the major persons and events of Church history from Pentecost to the modern day. The story of the Catholic Church is presented in all its glory, success, and failure, along with fascinating vignettes about the men and women, saints, sinners, heroes, and villains who most shaped Catholic history over the last 2,000 years. Click here for more information.

Faith Matters is a weekly podcast for the Messenger newsletter of the Basilica School of Saint Mary, which gets distributed to Basilica School families. It features Father Edward Hathaway, the rector of the Basilica. In this week's episode, he shares about how this Sunday's Gospel reading connects with our Culture of Life mindset, which we can participate in during next week's National March for Life in Washington, D.C. 
We hope you are able to join us at the March for Life on Friday, Jan. 23, as we travel by Metro to D.C. We will meet at the King Street Metro Station in Alexandria between 11:30-11:50 a.m. and leave on the train that leaves the station close to 12 (noon). If you can't make it to the march in D.C., please join us in the Basilica church to pray with us during a Holy Hour and Rosary for Life at 11 a.m. on Jan. 23.

Also, Father Hathaway mentions the redesigned Project Rachel site, which you can access by going here: www.helpafterabortion.org
This site has been thoughtfully created for women and men seeking help and healing after abortion, including those who may not yet recognize how unresolved pain is affecting their lives. It's intended to meet people where they are and invite them into the light of truth, so that we can accompany them toward healing in Jesus Christ through the Sacraments.

Father Edward Hathaway, the Rector of the Basilica, shares a homily during the Baptism of the Lord. It was given in the Basilica on January 11, 2026.