We hope you are having a wonderful summer! We wanted to make sure you were aware that Stella Maris Academy is in the Best of La Jolla Light 2019 Reader’s Poll.

When you have a moment, please place your vote for SMA (via the clickable link below). You can vote once a day – every day – until August 5th. Stella Maris Academy is in the Private School area of the poll. Thanks so much!

VOTE NOW!!

Thank you for supporting our CRV bottle and can recycling program that benefits the Missions. During the 3rd trimester of the 2018-2019 school year, we raised $165. For the entire school year, we realized $689. For the entire history of the program, dating back to 2005, we have given $15,747 to the Missions.

Want to come back to school in the fall and attend our ice cream social? What about having the math department serve you pancakes? If either of these options interest you, please take a moment and check out the information below.

Every summer our students are asked to read and complete math assignments (grades 4-8) to help prevent the summer slide. Below you will find the links needed for these assignments.

Middle School Reading (6-8) – We are asking all students to read at least three books over the summer and be ready to give a Book Talk (directions attached) when they return to school.

Mrs. Marcelino’s Ice Cream Social Summer Reading Log – Students in kindergarten through third grade are asked to read and record 10 picture books or 3-4 beginning chapter books. Students entering fourth through eighth grade are asked to read three chapter books.

Summer ALEKS assignments (4th-8th) – Students in fourth through eighth grade are asked to complete 8 ALEKS assignments over the summer with a score of 90% or higher. If students score lower, they can use the Quick Retake option to simply redo the problems they missed. Assignments can be found in the upper left-hand corner of ALEKS by clicking on the three lines and selecting “Assignments”. It is strongly suggested that students complete the 8 ALEKS topics before working on their personal pie if they are close to finishing their pie so as to not lose their work on the assignments.

Thank you! We hope you have a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, August 21st.

Our new Principal, Mrs. Francie Moss, and our new Pastor, Father Pat Mulcahy, will be on campus this coming Monday, June 3^rd, from 3.15pm until 4pm for an informal Meet & Greet in the Junior Yard. You are warmly invited to stop by to say “hello” and to get to know them. They are both very much looking forward to their new appointments at Stella Maris Academy and becoming a part of the community!

Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church and Stella Maris Academy will welcome a new pastor and principal on July 1, with the appointments of Father Patrick J. Mulcahy and Mrs. Francie Moss.

Fr. Pat was born in San Antonio, Texas to an Air Force family. He grew up in Germany and Spain, and is fluent in Spanish. Upon return to the U.S. and California, he earned a B.S. in Economics from UC San Diego. Soon after, he felt a call to priesthood and received a Master of Divinity Degree from St. John Seminary, in Camarillo, and was ordained for the Diocese of San Diego in 1995. He has served in many diverse parish settings and is currently Pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral in Downtown San Diego. Fr. Pat’s many passions beyond his ministry include travel and sports and the opportunity to meet new people and new cultures.

Mrs. Francie Moss, a native San Diegan, is currently the principal at Holy Trinity Catholic School. Mrs. Moss graduated from San Diego State University with a Liberal Arts degree and teaching credentials; later, she received a degree in Education Administration from National University. Her 36-year teaching career has been dedicated to Catholic Schools in the Diocese of San Diego. Fifteen years ago, Mrs. Moss transitioned from teaching into education administration as the principal at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School in Oceanside, where she worked along side Pastor Fr. Pat Mulcahy.

Fr. Pat and Mrs. Moss have toured the Stella Maris Academy campus and Mary, Star of the Sea church, met the students and staff, and are equally delighted on their new appointments.

Both the out-going pastor and principal will be retiring at the end of June. Mrs. Patricia Lowell, has been with Stella Maris Academy since 1993, first as a teacher, and then as the principal for the past 13 years. Pastor, Father James Rafferty, has been the Mary, Star of the Sea pastor since July 1, 2008 and has been in the priesthood for 47 years.

On Friday, June 7, Fr. Mulcahy will be returning to Stella Maris Academy to concelebrate with Fr. Jim at our Last Day of School Mass. Fr. Pat will also be the homilist at that Mass that day.

Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church, founded in 1909, is named in honor of the Blessed Virgin. In 1937, the current church was built and designed in the Spanish Colonial revival architecture by Carleton Monroe Winslow (1876-1946), the renowned architect. Mary, Star of the Sea Church welcomes up to 800 worshippers per weekend and has an overall membership of nearly 1,000 families. 

Stella Maris Academy is a National Blue Ribbon Award-winning transitional kindergarten through 8th grade Catholic school located in the heart of the Village of La Jolla. For over 70 years Stella Maris has provided academic excellence and the finest in Catholic school education by dedicated staff in a nurturing environment. Stella Maris Academy is accredited by the Western Catholic Education Association and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Holy Week and Easter at Mary, Star of Sea Catholic Church

EASTER TRIDUUM

Holy Thursday, April 18
7:30 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Bilingual)
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 10:00 pm in the Parish Hall

Good Friday, April 19
Day of Fast and Abstinence
8:00 am Morning Prayer
1:00 pm Stations of the Cross
2:00 pm The Lord’s Passion
5:00 pm Via Crucis
6:00 pm Pasión del Senor

Holy Saturday, April 20
8:00 am Morning Prayer
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm The Easter Vigil

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 21

Mass in Church
7:30 am, 9:00 am, 10:30 am, and 12:00 noon

Mass in Hall
9:00 am, 10:30 am, 12:00 noon

Easter Sunday Evening
No Masses

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Fr. Pat will officially begin his service as Pastor of Mary, Star of the Sea Church and Superintendent of Stella Maris Academy on July 1, 2019. Taking some time away from his pastoral commitments as Pastor of St. Joseph’s Cathedral (downtown San Diego) brought Fr. Mulcahy to La Jolla this past week.

Father’s toured our school campus and met our wonderful students and staff. Throughout the morning Fr. Pat continuously shared his joy of becoming the pastor of a parish school. A great communicator, Father is fluent in Spanish and is already thinking that batball, kickball, and four square may become his top three school games of choice as pastor and superintendent.

Fr. Mulcahy will be returning to SMA on June 7th to concelebrate with Fr. Jim at our Last Day of School Mass. Fr. Pat will also be the homilist at that Mass that day. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to hear him preach!

God bless,
Mrs. Patricia Lowell
Principal