Chesterton News

Soon after we announced that the Chesterton Academy of St. Mary’s will open in Charlotte Hall, wonderfully generous but anonymous supporters have doubly challenged us starting June 30th through September 1st.

Challenge #1: The supporters have agreed to match dollar-for-dollar all contributions up to a total of $10,000. That means for every dollar contributed through September 1st, the anonymous donors will double it. Their $10,000 becomes $20,000 – but only with your help.

Challenge #2: If we meet Challenge #1, the donors will add a $5,000 “kicker” bringing their total contribution to a whopping $15,000! But we first must get to the $10,000 and only then does the “kicker” come into play. To earn this “kicker”, we must raise an additional $5,000 – all of it! $4,000 or even $4,999 won’t do. If we fall even a dollar short, we won’t get any of the $5,000. The “kicker” is all or nothing!

The bottom line is that we stand to raise $30,000 in total because of these wonderful supporters and because of you!

As you know, Chesterton Academy of St. Mary’s was created with the promise of offering an affordable, classical, high school education in the Catholic tradition to Southern Maryland families.

September 1st is the deadline to match the donors’ two challenges. Will you, along with your family, friends, and neighbors, to the challenge? By doing so, you will help underwrite this, our first year of operation.

Please stand with us and these generous donors.

You can make your contribution through PayPal by clicking on the DONATE NOW button below.

Or, if you prefer, you can mail your check made payable to Chesterton Academy of St Mary's to:

Chesterton Academy of St Mary'sPO Box 310Hollywood, MD 20636

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Chesterton Academy of St. Mary’s is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Andrew Pudysz as its first Headmaster. Mr. Pudysz, who taught theology at St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta, Georgia, will assume his duties effective July 1 st .

Mr. Pudysz holds a Master of Arts in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH, and received his B.A. in Sacred Theology and History with an English Minor from Southern Catholic College in Dawsonville, GA.

“I am delighted to become part of this new school,” said Mr. Pudysz. “As the birthplace of Catholicism in the early colonies, St. Mary’s County is a special and blessed place for this school.”

In addition to academics, Mr. Pudysz coached Cross Country and Track and Field and co-established the Frassati Brotherhood Club, an all-male club centered on fellowship and faith designed to bridge the gap between students’ extracurricular activities and their spiritual life. Mr. Pudysz also served as a youth minister and Confirmation teacher at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Dawsonville, GA.

Mr. Pudysz has been married to his wife, Julia, for eleven years. They have five children (Andrew Jr., Veronica, Simon, Emelia, and Colette) and a beloved black Lab named Charlie. In addition to his duties as Acting Headmaster, he will teach Humanities. “I want to form students to be good, upstanding citizens who actively practice their Faith and utilize their God-given talents to serve the Lord and their community.”

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The Chesterton Academy of St Mary's is pleased to announce Father Andrew "Drew" Royals as its Chaplain.

Fr. Drew was inspired to become a priest by the example of Pope Saint John Paul II. He studied theater arts at Providence College in Rhode Island. "As an actor in college I performed in several main stage productions including my favorite role as Sir Thomas More in Robert Bolt's -A Man For All Seasons."

Fr. Drew spent five years at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, studying systematic theology and preparing for the priesthood. He was ordained 2006. Since his ordination, he has served parishes in Bowie and Rockville, Maryland, and the District of Columbia before becoming the pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Morganza, Maryland.

"I am looking forward to serving as Chaplain to the fine young men and women of Chesterton Academy of St. Mary's," said Fr. Drew. "Saying Holy Mass for the students at the start of their school day will be a joy as will be guiding them with their spiritual needs."

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Chesterton Academy of St. Mary’s is one of 14 new Chesterton Academy “classical education” high schools opening for the 2021-2022 academic year, heavily adding to the 28 Chesterton Academies in operation, according to organizers.

The new high school is opening in Maryland’s St. Mary’s County, the ancestral home of English-speaking Catholicism in the U.S., and is giving Catholic parents access to an affordable Catholic high-school liberal arts education.

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