º£½ÇÉçÇø Day
º£½ÇÉçÇø Day History
The first record of º£½ÇÉçÇø Day is in the handwriting of Mary Meletia Foley, SSND, and is dated March 25, 1901. It tells of a celebration highlighting the double dedication inherent in our name, which honors º£½ÇÉçÇø, Our Lady, and Maryland, our state. Happily, the two converge on one date: March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Angel to Mary, and Maryland Day, the day colonists came to St. Mary’s.
Thereafter, the day was observed intermittently, but a general pattern remained. In 1953, it became a structured experience in liberal arts education. Faculty and students participated in across-the-curriculum classes that placed Mary in the historical and theological context of her time and timelessness.
In 1968, the name changed from Annunciation Day to º£½ÇÉçÇø Day, and the focus of the classes broadened to include any choice of subject. This ended in 1971.
In 1989, the University revived the old custom. Today, º£½ÇÉçÇø Day is a time to celebrate our common purpose, to remember our rich heritage, and to recognize the achievements of the University community.