Faith Matters is a weekly podcast for the Messenger newsletter of the Basilica School of Saint Mary, which gets distributed to Basilica School families. It features Father Edward Hathaway, the rector of the Basilica. In this week's episode, Fr. Hathaway shares about issues of importance to Catholics in the upcoming Virginia elections and the importance of voting with your conscience according to Catholic teachings.

He also shares about how the parish's giving platform will shift, starting on Nov. 5, 2025, from Faith Direct to ParishSoft Giving. Click here to learn more. He adds that he will be praying for all parishioners and school families during his upcoming pilgrimage to Rome with a group of Basilica parishioners. To submit your prayer requests to him and the pilgrims, share your request by clicking here by Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at noon.

To access the Virginia Catholic Conference to learn more about the issues at stake in the upcoming elections, click here.