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 reflects on how Jesus teaches that a life rooted in holiness brings, flavor, meaning and light to a darkened world.

This month's guest for the podcast series called "What Are the Sisters Reading?" is from the Daughters of Saint Paul. Sister Emily Marsh, FSP,  shares about a book called "The Shattering of Loneliness: On Christian Remembrance," by Bishop Erik Varden, a Norwegian Trappist monk. The book explores how Christian remembrance heals human loneliness by reconnecting individuals to their original divine image and communion with God. 
To check out more books on the Catholic faith and religious items of interest at the Pauline Books and Media Center at 1025 King Street in Alexandria, please click here.

Father Peter Clem, a parochial vicar, shares a homily during the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. It was given in the Basilica on February 1, 2026. In the homily, he focuses on the importance of supporting the Bishop's Lenten Appeal. Please click here to find out more and to donate.

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.