News and Events: Graduation and Vocations

This week our 8th grade students will graduate.  They are looking forward to having a relaxing summer and moving on to the next step in their educational journey.  We have been privileged to be able to help them learn not only reading, writing and math, but also to help them deepen their faith.  They and their families have become a part of our lives. Some of the students have been with Saint Joseph Academy since their pre-school days! They have grown up in so many ways during their time with us.

Sister Therese Marie talking at the first "Called to Love Retreat".

At the end of the week, we are sponsoring  a "Called to Love" vocation retreat.  This retreat is open to women from the ages of 18-30.  We have 7 women coming from all over the country.. They will spend time praying with us and learning about religious life.  These women are looking for God's will in their lives.  They are willing to spend some time away from their busy lives to be silent and prayerful so they can listen to God's will. They will not only have time for prayer but also time to work with the sisters, play with us and learn about our day.  They will also spend some time with the Passionist Nuns in Erlanger to learn about the Cloister vocation.

Just like our 8th grade students, these women are looking forward to follow God's will in their lives. Please pray for  our students and the women on the Called to Love Retreat.

News and Events: The month of May

This month is a very special time for the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker.  The month begins with our feast day in memory of St. Joseph, May 1st.  We always have a special celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and renew our vows during the Mass.

May is also dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  We have a great devotion of Our Lady. This May there is an additional reason to celebrate since it is the 100th anniversary of her appearance in Fatima, Portugal.  On May 13, 1917, Jacinta, Fransicso and Lucia saw a lady dressed in white and brighter than the sun.  Our Lady visited the three children in the Cova de Iria near Fatima on the 13th day of each month for 6 months.  I remember as a child driving past a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima with my parents when we drove to visit family.  Each time we passed the shrine my mother would say "Our Lady of Fatima..." and we children would respond, ..."Pray for us."  That was my first introduction to the devotion of Our Lady of Fatima.

The last day of May is the Feast of the Visitation.  The Visitation celebrates the Blessed Virgin Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth as told in Luke 1:39.  Another important and beautiful Marian Feast Day.

I hope each of you have a blessed and graced month of May.

News and Events: Happy Easter

Happy Easter!  I hope your Easter  was a joyful celebration.  Our community gathered in Versailles to celebrate together.  We prayed together, played together and visited with each other.  I hope you and your family were able to make time for each other to celebrate our Risen Lord.


This week Sister Margaret Mary is heading to St. Paul, MN to visit with the Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Clavier.  Those of you who know Sister, know that she is a talented musician.  She plays 13 different instruments and has a wonderful singing voice.  She is going togive music lessons the Sisters in St. Paul.  She is going to spend a week giving some pointers on how to sing.  Please pray that she has a safe trip.

Sister Margaret Mary giving a music workshop to students at Ave Marie University.

Sister Patricia Jean and I will also be traveling this week.  We are going to Mundelein, IL to attend the Institute for Religious Life.  The Institute has been supporting Religious Life since 1974.  Sister and I are looking forward to hearing the wonderful conferences.  We will also have a vocation table there as well.   If you are in the area, we would love to meet you.

News and Events: Holy Week

This week the Diocese of Covington is having the Chrism Mass.  It will be tomorrow, Tuesday April 11, at the Cathedral.  The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass begin at 7:00 pm.  It is a beautiful celebration and I hope that you will come.  We are blessed in this Diocese to have a beautiful Cathedral. I hope you are able to attend the Chrism Mass.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Stained glass windows of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, KY>

Beginning on Holy Thursday, the community begins a 3 day silent retreat.  The last pillar of Lent is prayer and what a better time to immerse yourself in prayer then during Holy Week.  It is a wonderful time to meditate on how much God loves us. Prayer is one of the pillars of Lent. This week would be a good time to turn off the internet and spend extra time in prayer.

May each of you have a blessed Holy Week.  While we are in silence we will pray for you.

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.