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Dear Mooney Family,
This year, as we celebrate the Jubilee Year, our Holy Father calls us to embrace our role as "pilgrims of hope." One of the most profound ways we can bring hope to our community is through acts of service. Service is not only an expression of our Catholic faith but also a manifestation of the Christian values we hold dear. At Cardinal Mooney, we understand that our students are called to live lives of holiness and compassion, embodying the very essence of what it means to be a Cardinal.
In 1 John 3:17-18, Jesus offers us a powerful reminder of this calling:
"If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
These words are a clear call to action. At Cardinal Mooney, we believe that faith is best demonstrated through tangible acts of service, where we move beyond words and let our actions reflect the love of God. It is through these acts that we truly live out our faith and strengthen our community.
For this reason, beginning next school year, all Cardinal Mooney students will be required to engage in meaningful service within their communities. Service opportunities will be available through our school, local parishes, churches, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, nursing homes, schools, animal shelters, and other nonprofit organizations in need of support. To ensure accountability and reflection, students will log their hours using a school-provided app and complete short writing assignments about their service experiences.
Service requirements:
- Freshmen & Sophomores: 10 hours per year.
- Juniors: 15 hours of service and a service project.
- Seniors: 10 service hours and a senior proposal showcasing their service experiences and how they plan to continue serving beyond high school.
Service opportunities will be regularly provided, and all students will be encouraged to participate actively. Additionally, we will host our Cardinal Mooney Day of Service on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, allowing students to engage in community service projects. Participation in this day will count for four service hours toward their requirement.
To introduce our new service program, we will host a Service Fair on Friday, April 11, where students will connect with organizations from across the Mahoning Valley. We are excited to welcome representatives from Catholic Charities, Dorothy Day House, Animal Charity of Ohio, Mill Creek MetroParks, and many more. Students will learn about service opportunities, attend a Lenten Mass with Fr. Rovnak, hear from Michael Bernot, director of the West Side Catholic Center in Cleveland, and receive training on how to track their hours using our new service app.
Schedule for April 11, 2025 (Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors):
- School begins at 8:30 a.m. and dismisses at noon.
- Participation in the Service Fair is mandatory, and students will receive participation points in designated classes.
- The cafeteria will be open for breakfast starting at 7:30 a.m., and a grab-and-go lunch will be provided for any students needing a meal.
Note: Seniors do not need to attend school on April 11, 2025. We encourage them to use this day to finalize college decisions, visit prospective campuses, or review financial aid packages.
We are excited to see our students grow in faith and character through service. Thank you for your support in fostering a commitment to community, faith, and compassion in our young Cardinals.
Food Drive
In that same spirit, we are excited to announce this year’s annual food drive, now taking place during the Easter season, a time when many local food pantries experience a critical need for donations. The drive will run from Tuesday, April 8, to Tuesday, April 15.
This initiative is hosted by our National Honor Society students, who are partnering with Catholic Charities of Youngstown to provide essential ingredients for recipe bags distributed to families in need. To ensure we are collecting the necessary items, each homeroom will be assigned one or two specific food items along with an overall donation goal. Here are the goals and items needed for each homeroom.
As an incentive, any homeroom that reaches its individual goal will earn a dress-down day. Additionally, the top three homerooms that donate the most items overall will receive grand prizes:
- 1st Place: Pizza party
- 2nd Place: Donut party
- 3rd Place: Ice cream party
We appreciate your support in helping us make a meaningful impact in our community. Thank you for encouraging your child to participate in this important service project!
IOWA Testing and two-hour delay
On Monday, April 7, and Tuesday, April 8, we will follow a two-hour delay schedule to allow time for IOWA testing. The schedule is posted below. All freshmen are required to take these exams, as well as any sophomore, junior, or senior who has not yet met the graduation requirements. Students were notified by letter if they need to take this assessment and should report to their assigned room no later than 8:30 a.m.
All Cardinal Mooney students must pass the IOWA Assessment with a minimum total score of 255 on the two mathematics sections and 249 on the three English language arts sections. The assessment is used for Ohio graduation requirements and to renew eligibility for students who are on EdChoice and the Jon Peterson Scholarship.
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