News and Events: Beginning of Lent

It has been too long since I've written anything on our Blog.  I really can't think of a reason why I stopped writing about the News and Events of the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker.  We have had all sorts of events and news to share.  But I got out of the habit of writing about them.  So this Lent I will attempt to get back to regularly sharing news, events, and stories about the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker.

Of course, Lent means Fish Fry on Fridays at St. Joseph Academy. Our first fish fry did very well.  Thanks to everyone who came out to support St. Joseph Academy.  And also a big thank you to all the volunteers.  Without the help of the parents, teachers, staff and volunteers we could never serve such a delicious meal.  It takes many hands to set up, cook, serve, and clean up. 

Teachers and staff of St. Joseph Academy praying at the beginning of the school year.

After you eat the delicious meal on Friday, you can attend the Stations of the Cross at All Saints Parish at 7:00 pm. The Stations of the Cross is a wonderful devotion. The stations remind us that God loves each of us so much that He sent Jesus to redeem us.   It helps us to keep in mind that Lent is just not something we have to put up with for 40 days. Lent is a 40 day retreat that draws us closer and closer to God. I hope to see you at the Fish Fry and at the Stations of the Cross this Friday.  May you have a blessed and grace-filled Lent. 

News and Events: Vocation fair

This week Sister Margaret Mary and Sister Mary Faustina are going to Ave Maria University for the vocation fair.  If you are in the area, they would love to meet you.  Each year the sisters enjoy going to sunny Florida to attend the vocation fair at Ave Maria.  They have a beautiful campus, wonderful and prayerful liturgies.  And of course who can resist a trip to Florida.

Mother Mary Christina and Sister Margaret Mary with Dr. Treachy at Ave Maria

This week is also our last Fish Fry for the year.  Saint Joseph Academy could not survive without the proceeds from the Fish Fry.  The tuition the families pay covers the salaries for the teachers.  Everything else from the light bill to books for the library must come from other sources.  So thank you for all the support you have given us these past weeks.  And we look forward to seeing you on Friday.

News and Events: Fish Fry

A few weeks ago I got ahead of myself and posted a blog stating that we were beginning Lent.  I was a bit early - about 4 weeks early actually!  This Wednesday, March 1, is  really Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.  And it is also the beginning of our annual Friday Fish Fry to support Saint Joseph Academy.  The tuition the students pay only covers the teachers' salaries.  Anything else the school needs comes from our fund raisers. Our fish fry would not be possible without the many volunteers who spend hours and hours setting up, cooking, serving, cleaning and doing all the many 'behind the scene' jobs.

Sister Patricia Jean teaching class.

And of course it would not be possible without the support of everyone who attends the fish fry.  It really is a wonderful way to connect with people, enjoy the evening and support Catholic education.  We look forward to seeing each of you every week.

When you come to our fish fry, be sure to look at all the sponsors who support us.  Many good businesses contribute to help make the fish fry a success.  When we first began our fish fry, we were excited when we served 500 dinners.  It has since grown to include not only dine-in but carry out and drive through also.  It is not unusual for us to serve 1,200 + dinners now.  But don't worry, there is always room for one more person to come and enjoy our meal.   See you on Friday at Saint Joseph Academy.

News and Events: Lent and Fish Fry

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday.  That means it is the beginning of the Lenten Season.  Ash Wednesday is 40 days before Easter.  Do you know what the practise of putting ashes on the forehead symbolizes?  

In the bible, a mark of a forehead is a symbol of ownership. Ezekiel 9:4 says " The Lord said to him,'Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst. " Revelation 7:3 says" ...Do no harm to the earth or the seas or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads."

The sign which is marked on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday is a cross. ( I know, sometimes it looks more like a smudge of dirt then a cross.) But it is to remind us that we belong to Jesus who died on the cross for our salvation.  

Walking around with a smudge of ashes all day on Wednesday can be a great way to engage others.  it can be a tool to teach them about what Ash Wednesday is all about.  I love it when someone approaches me to tell me I have dirt on my forehead.  First of all, it takes a lot of courage to tell someone you don't know that their face is dirty.  So I appreciate their willingness to tell me.  But I also love the chance to tell them a little bit about Ash Wednesday and my faith.

Lent also means the beginning of Fish Fry.  Saint Joseph Academy has a fish fry every Friday in Lent to support the school.  Tuition covers only the teachers' salaries.  The money from the fish fry go towards all the other bills we must pay like utilities and maintenance.  So come to the fish fry and get a delicious fish dinner.  And support Catholic education at the same time.  See you on Friday at Saint Joseph Academy in Walton, KY.

A Day in the Life: Crazy Normal

Last Fish Fry of the season and I've been busy all day. Much love to everyone and I will resume normal posts on April 1st, since we are in Sacred Silence during the Triduum. May the Lord bless you and keep you!

A Day in the Life: Never a Dull Moment!

Well, friends, this week has been one crazy whirlwind of activity, and I haven't had time to really write a post for this morning. Our school's Fish Fry starts tonight, and I have errands to run this afternoon. Anyone who thinks religious life is boring should ask someone in it! If there was boredom, we would have found it by now...

Painting that hangs in our recreation room.

In lieu of a post, here's a poem I wrote a few weeks ago. Hopefully, I will have something for you next week!

Signs of Contradiction

Sr. Cecilia Ross

January, 2016

Alpha, Omega, Lion, Lamb

Creator of being,

Born in a cave.

Cornerstone and stumbling-block.

Master of everything,

Servant of all.

Death into life,

Bread into Body,

Wine into Blood.

God and man, divinely human.

And through the ages,

Rank on rank,

Fools following an outcast.

Saints and sinners,

Hermits and addicts,

Scholars and simpletons,

Virgins and mistresses,

Doctors and drunks,

Kings and barbarians,

Bishops and beggars.

Humbled and exalted,

Dying to live.

This paradox in unity,

A cacophonic harmony.

News and Events: Lent and Fish Fry

This week we begin the holy season of Lent.  A time to reflect and prepare ourselves to celebrate to great feast of Easter.  We miss the mark when we think of Lent as just a time to give up some kind of food.  We can begin to think of Lent as a kind of 40 day Catholic diet plan. While it is a good thing to look at what we eat and make changes, there are many other ways we can observe Lent.  Mother Ellen, our foundress, wrote:  "When we talk of penance and mortification, somehow people so often think in terms of food, especially in terms of doing with less of eat....  There are many other ways to do penance.”

The first station of the cross at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption

 Also beginning this week is the annual Fish Fry at St. Joseph Academy, Walton.  Each Friday during Lent, the parents, teachers, sisters and volunteers  prepare and serve thousands of fish dinner.  This is the main fund raiser for the school and without it we would not be able to continue to function.