Articulate, Confident, Responsible Citizens of the World
Absalom Jones Benefit: March 13, 2026

The Cathedral School community is strengthened by the presence and celebration of students, families, and voices of all experiences and backgrounds.
 
We gather together for the annual Absalom Jones Benefit in support of Cathedral’s robust financial aid program–a staunch commitment unmatched by our independent school peers. This event honors the legacy of Absalom Jones, who purchased his freedom in 1784 and went on to become the first Black priest in the Episcopal Church. His lifelong work denouncing slavery and oppression serves as an inspiration for The Cathedral School’s ongoing commitment to equity, justice, and inclusion.
 
We are deeply grateful for the consideration and support of our community, whose dedication enriches the social, emotional, and academic growth of all Cathedral students.

To RSVP, underwrite the event, and donate to our silent and live auctions, visit our event website here! 

Who was Absalom Jones?
Absalom Jones was an abolitionist, community organizer, and clergyman who was born into slavery in 1746, taught himself to read, purchased his wife’s freedom, and then purchased his own in 1783. He later founded the Free African Society with Richard Allen and went on to become the first Black priest ordained in the Episcopal Church. Absalom Jones’s lifelong work denouncing slavery and oppression serves as an inspiration for The Cathedral School’s ongoing commitment to equity, justice, and inclusion.

What is Call From The Heart?
Call From The Heart invites community members to make gifts in support of Financial Aid at The Cathedral School. As the Call is made, the love we have for Cathedral is channeled into donations, given at all levels, directly supporting this robust financial aid program and reinforcing our shared commitment to welcoming students and families of all backgrounds.
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