On Wednesday mornings, the chapel no longer sits half-empty and silent. Instead, it fills with the familiar faces of students choosing to begin their day gathered in prayer.

While morning Mass has always been offered at school, this year has seen a noticeable rise in student attendance, largely due to the initiative and dedication of seniors.

Last year, Andrew Weigand and Colton Walker began attending weekly morning Mass together with the hope of deepening their faith. “We were sad that we were oftentimes the only students in attendance,” Andrew shared. 

What began as a quiet personal commitment soon became an opportunity to invite others into the experience. Determined to build community, Andrew reached out individually to more than 100 classmates, discovering that personal invitations were far more effective than announcements alone.

“I have found that directly reaching out to students is the best strategy,” Andrew explained. “People love that you are thinking of them and are passionate enough to think of them personally.”

With the addition of donuts after Mass, dubbed “Donuts and Jesus,” attendance slowly began to grow.

The impact of those efforts became especially clear in recent weeks. “One Wednesday, I walked into the chapel and stopped in awe,” Andrew said. “A room that was once dim and empty now buzzed with warmth and belonging . . . I counted over seventy peers patiently waiting for Mass.”

Fr. John has also noticed the change. “Attendance is much better in general this year over previous years,” he said, crediting seniors who encourage participation. He emphasized that morning Mass “gets the day off to a good start” by allowing students to center their day in God.

While some may point to donuts as the draw, Fr. John notes that “they come because friends go,” and because Mass fosters connection.

As more students choose to pause, pray, and gather before the school day begins, Wednesday morning Mass continues to shape a stronger sense of faith and community.