Stella Maris Academy

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Today, we offer our prayers to everyone impacted by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County.

Lord, we lift up in prayer all those who have lost their homes, businesses, and loved ones. May they feel Your love and mercy, even in these challenging moments. Grant eternal rest to those who have passed, and surround all first responders with Your protection as they risk their lives in these dangerous zones.

We ask this in Your holy name, Amen.
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Dear SMA Community, Happy new year, happy Epiphany, and welcome back to school as we begin 2025! In the life of the Church, we are still in the Christmas season, though stores and many homes have pretty much sold out of, taken down or put away their Christmas merchandise and decorations. This past Sunday, we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany, which recalls the visit of the three wise men/kings/magi to the infant Jesus in Bethlehem.This Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River....

Principal Brandt’s Message Dear SMA Community, Happy new year, happy Epiphany, and welcome back to school as we begin 2025! In the life of the Church, we are still in the Christmas season, though stores and many ho…

🌟 “We saw His star at its rising and have come to do Him homage.” (Matthew 2:2)

Today, we celebrate the Epiphany, remembering the Magi’s journey to Christ. At SMA, we strive to follow their example, bringing our gifts of faith, love, and kindness to the world.

For many people, Christmas ended a couple days ago, but as Catholics, we know Jesus’s birthday lasts a whole season! Keep spreading the Christmas joy, SMA! Merry Christmas! 🙏🏽🎄💙

Did the wise men wrap their gifts? I wonder when people started wrapping gifts. Of course this thought came after a conversation of how much I dislike wrapping gifts. But, why do we wrap the presents we give to each other? The element of surprise for the brief moments of secrecy just before tearing through the paper —that probably took a few minutes to neatly fold and tape together— hardly seems worth it. I suppose for a kid, that surprise is kind of cute.. But in a world that so craves instant gratification, it seems an unwrapped gift would be the way to go.

Did I have something deep and meaningful to tie in about unwrapped gift giving? No. Not really. Maybe I just wanted to start a trend that could save trees and a lot of time for us bad gift wrappers.

Tell someone you love them this Christmas. Tell someone you appreciate them this Christmas —especially those people in our lives we forget to love and appreciate. Tell someone they matter to you and are important in your life. Hug someone this Christmas like it’s your last Christmas together. Those are gifts that would please Jesus, the Birthday Boy, the most. Those are gifts that don’t need wrapping. Those aren’t things you can fit into any gift box anyway. Plus, you don’t even have to remember the gift tags! I always forget the gift tags.

Merry Christmas, SMA! Happy Birthday, Jesus! Thank you for being the BEST gift we’ve ever received.

Dear SMA Community, Happy Advent! In this third week of the Advent season, the theme is joy. “Joy is a very real and deep happiness that is rooted in faith and trust. In this third week of Advent, we pause and reflect on the first half of the season, as well as look ahead to the last weeks. The joy that we have and will experience during this season magnifies as we continue to prepare for the coming of Christ, who is full of joy” (...

Principal’s Message Dear SMA Community, Happy Advent! In this third week of the Advent season, the theme is joy. “Joy is a very real and deep happiness that is rooted in faith and trust. In this third week of Advent, …

Some good quality buddy time before we’re off for Christmas break! Countdown begins! 🎄

Happy Saturday, SMA! What a fun second week of Advent at SMA! We celebrated our big Christmas Parade win, Student of the Month, La Posada, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and lots more! Hope to see you all tomorrow at 9am for our last Family Mass of 2024!

Dear SMA Community, Happy Advent! In this second week of the Advent season, the theme is peace. During Mass, we hear the celebrant (priest) echo the words of Jesus, “Peace be with you.” “Simple, but transformative words during a time of stress and anxiety. We are invited during the week to welcome peace in our lives. It is when we accept a spirit of peace that we are transformed and able to embrace Jesus, the Prince of Peace” (...

Principal’s Message Dear SMA Community, Happy Advent! In this second week of the Advent season, the theme is peace. During Mass, we hear the celebrant (priest) echo the words of Jesus, “Peace be with you.” “Simple, bu…

Thanks to our amazing Cheer Team for their participation in yesterday’s memorable Christmas Parade! Go SMA Cheer!! 📣

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception —normally on Dec. 8th but transferred this year due to the Sunday of Advent taking precedence— is a beautiful Marian feast day honoring Mary who was truly set apart among women. No other woman more beautiful has walked this planet as she was chosen as the perfect vessel to carry our Lord from the moment of her own conception. It was only fitting that on the day typically dedicated to her and by a school named after her, our Christmas float would share Mary’s radiant beauty, too. Please join us for Mass tomorrow, December 9th at Mary, Star of the Sea in La Jolla at 8am or with the kiddos at 10:30am. Mary, the Immaculate Conception, pray for us.

Dear SMA Community, Happy Advent! In the life of the Church, we have transitioned from the Season of Ordinary Time into the Season of Advent. Moreover, in this first week of Advent, we are also in a new Church year, which began on Sunday, December 2nd. I spoke a bit about this in my “Welcome back” email to the school community that same day, so please go back and read it if you missed it....

Principal’s Message Dear SMA Community, Happy Advent! In the life of the Church, we have transitioned from the Season of Ordinary Time into the Season of Advent. Moreover, in this first week of Advent, we are also in …

On the first week of Advent, my true love gave to me….

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. It also marks the last Sunday of our liturgical year with the first Sunday of Advent kicking off next week. Jesus, You are the King of the Universe and still You came into our world to win over the thrones of our hearts. Always rule within each of us and never let us be apart from Your love which sustains us and gives us hope. 👑

Thank you, Dr. K! You will be in our prayers as you tackle this next chapter of your life!

More pics to come but we want to give a special shout-out to our amazing sponsors for this year’s Drumstick Dash! Thank you thank you thank you!!!! You’re our MVP’s!!! 🏆

Dear SMA Community, What a fun morning we had at the La Jolla Recreation Center! The school community assembled there for “The Drumstick Dash!” Students ran multiple laps around the grass field and asphalt courts–several students tallied into the high 20s! There were many parents and others from the SMA community on hand to assist and cheer on our runners. I hear we have surpassed our goal of $15K, so THANK YOU to everyone who supported our Drumstick Dash fundraiser!...

Principal’s Message Dear SMA Community, What a fun morning we had at the La Jolla Recreation Center! The school community assembled there for “The Drumstick Dash!” Students ran multiple laps around the grass field and…

Thank you for serving at Mass this morning, Delilah and Leo! We have some stellar altar servers at SMA! All glory to God! Happy Sunday to all! 🙏🏽