Maryland Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele visits with the saints at Woodmont Academy. Five pupils represent St. Isaac Jogues, St. Francis, St. Faustina, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and St. Bernadette.

Cooksville, MD, November 8, 2006. – Maryland Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele visited Woodmont Academy on Tuesday, November 1st for the school’s 11th annual All Saints Day Mass and celebration.

Following the Mass, celebrated by school chaplain Father Steven Reilly, LC, Executive Director Scott F. Brown formally welcomed Mr. Steele to the school, introducing him as a man who personifies leadership principles that are an essential part of Woodmont Academy’s mission to transform society by forming tomorrow’s leaders.

Speaking to the student body, staff and parents, Lt. Governor Steele told the students they are like the saints because they are blessings from God, and reminding them that they are called to be saintly everyday not just on All Saints Day. “You have a saintly mission to reach out to others and to perform good deeds,” he said.

The energetic Lt. Governor took time to meet parents at a reception after Mass.  He also visited Mr. Mark Moran’s 6th grade class to listen to Christopher B. Folgueras share the story of St. Pio of Pietrelcina with his classmates and their families.

Recognized as a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics, All Saints Day commemorates the lives of the all the souls who share God’s glory in heaven, including those who are not formally canonized and universally known such as St. Patrick, St. Nicholas, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, or more recent holy men and women such as the late Pope John Paul II and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.  As part of the celebration at Woodmont, students research the life of a saint of the Church, dress up like him or her and then present a brief biographical sketch to parents and classmates.