Prior to this school year, Xavier College Preparatory offered Mass three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Starting in August 2024, Xavier increased its daily offering to Monday through Friday, providing a convenient opportunity for all students and faculty to attend.
Daily Masses will occur at noon, except for Fridays which begin at 7 a.m.
These Masses differ from the typical monthly liturgy, which is mandatory and occurs in the gym. Each daily Mass takes place in the Chapel of Our Lady and lasts approximately 20 minutes.
The increased offering is a result of Xavier’s chaplain, Father Elario Zambakari, wanting more flexibility for students to attend Mass throughout the week.
Zambakari is chaplain at both Xavier and Bourgade High Schools. He works at Bourgade until 11 a.m. each day and then finishes his day at Xavier.
“Prayer is something that we cannot just stop having. It is like eating, and we need to eat to live; we have to pray so that our soul may be strong,” Zambakari said.
Zambakari is deeply committed to his role. He is eager to connect with students and faculty, guiding them in their journeys of faith. He strives to be available for students to ask questions and to grow through their relationships with God.
“I want to implement the fact that students are not forced or told to go to Mass; it should come from within,” said Zambakari.
Former student Katie-Lynn Beazely, who now teaches freshman theology at Xavier, is someone who attended daily Mass, which had a positive effect on her, now, future.
Geoffrey Stricklin, theology teacher at Xavier, mentioned that access to Mass drew Beazely into pursuing a faith-based career.
Principal and former theology teacher Brittany Ecker has emphasized the importance of prayer in Xavier’s fast-paced environment, reinforcing the value of the new daily Mass schedule.
“At lunchtime, it is about 20 minutes of quiet, reflective time when you can pray and not have to be busy,” Ecker said.
