Student Life
HousesWhat is the HOUSE system?
Each student will belong to one of four Houses: St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, or St. John. Houses will have monthly meetings, competitions, service projects, prayer and activities to help build school culture and community.
St. Matthew
About: St. Matthew was a convert to Catholicism from Judaism. He was a tax collector whom Jesus invited to follow Him. Matthew rose and followed Jesus and his life changed forever!
Main Theme of the Gospel: The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
Quotation: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18).
Virtue: Faith. (It takes faith to get to the Kingdom of Heaven).
Feast Day: September 21
St. Mark
About: St. Mark was a disciple of St. Peter (the first Pope of the Catholic Church), and an associate of St. Paul. He helped establish the Catholic Church in Alexandria and Egypt.
Main Theme: Jesus is the divine Son of God and He heals us from our sin.
Quotation: “But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins, I say to you [the paralytic] rise, take up your mat and go home” (Mk. 210-11).
Virtue: Humility. (It takes humility to repent and be forgiven of your sins).
Feast Day: April 25
St. Luke
About: St. Luke was a physician and companion of St. Paul. He was the only evangelist who was a Gentile. And he is the only evangelist to write a sequel: Acts of the Apostles.
Main Theme: Christ has come to gather all people and nations into the family of God.
Quotation: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God” (Lk 1:35).
Virtue: Diligence. (St. Luke wrote a very thorough account of the life of Jesus to all who would come to believe).
Feast Day: October 18
St. John
About: St. John was the only Apostle at the cross when Jesus was crucified. His nickname was “the beloved disciple.” He took care of Mary after Jesus’ death. And he wrote beautifully about the Eucharist. He is also the author of three epistles and the Book of Revelation.
Main Theme: God is a family—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Quotation: As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me” (Jn 6:57).
Virtue: Charity. (St. John loved Jesus more than anyone or anything else. Of all the Apostles, John loved Jesus the most).
Feast Day: December 27
Interested in Learning More about our Catholic School?
In choosing St. Mary Catholic School, you are investing in your child’s tomorrow. For 150 years students and families have been entrusting SMCS for educational excellence – spiritually, academically, and socially. We invite you to visit our campus in historic Hagerstown, Maryland to learn more about our school as well as our school community.