The annual Upper School Mother Daughter Liturgy at Sacred Heart Greenwich, held April 17, celebrates the loving bond between mothers and daughters. Closely aligned with the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria, this liturgy allows students and their mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and mother figures to reflect on their relationships. Senior Eugenia Piriz and her mother, Mrs. Maria Giudici, exchanged thoughtful reflections to each other at the end of mass.
Father Christopher Devron of Regis High School in New York City, New York, was the celebrant of this mass. His sermon emphasized the importance of the small moments that occur between mothers and daughters. Fr. Devron noted that small interactions filled with encouragement, patience, or quietude are when a mother-daughter bond grows abundantly. He connected this message to the Gospel story of Jesus multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish to feed a crowd of 5,000.
Ms. Marian Campana, Director of Campus Ministry, organized the liturgy this year. She emphasized the importance of women in faith, highlighting Mother Mary, who was an influential figure and in Jesus’ life. This mass aims to pass down the transformative faith of women to their daughters. Ms. Campana commented on her favorite part of the liturgy.
“I enjoy witnessing the mother and daughters celebrating their faith together,” Ms. Campana said. “I think it’s a beautiful thing to witness the torch of faith passing down through generations. It is an amazing tradition that stays with us the rest of our lives.”
The Upper School Dancers opened the mass, performing a lyrical liturgical dance as they processed down the aisle with the Madrigals singing “Veni Sancte Spiritus”. The Madrigals also performed “Psalm 23” and liturgical songs during the service with direction from Miss Annette Etheridge, Middle and Upper School Music Teacher and Upper School Music Director. Additionally, the Upper School Stuart and Duchesne Bell Choirs performed “Sacred Silence” and a Communion meditation, “Mater Admirabilis,” under the direction of Miss Danielle Gennaro ’05, Bell Choir Director and Technical Director of Upper School Theatrical Productions.
To close the liturgy, Mrs. Giudici and Eugenia shared heartfelt letters one another. Mrs. Giudici noted that, despite the hardships they had been through, she is incredibly grateful for her family. In her reflection, Mrs. Giudici shared what Eugenia means to her.
“Eugenia, the day you came into my life everything changed forever because you made my dream come true,” Mrs. Giudici said. “You didn’t change my life, you completed it. Being your mom is one of the greatest blessings I will ever know. You are my greatest gift [and] my greatest joy. Watching you grow into the woman you are becoming makes me so excited for your future.”
Featured Image by Claire McMonagle ’27
