News and Events: Ash Wednesday and Fish Fry

This week we will celebrate Ash Wednesday.  Although 'celebrate' seems to be the wrong word.  We don't usually associate fasting and penance with celebration.  But if we keep in mind what Lent is leading up to, we can appreciate our penances better and, in a certain sense, celebrate.

Lent is a preparation for the celebration of Easter.  When you think about it, when we are going to celebrate something really important we take are time and plan everything out.  Birthday parties, retirement parties or parties to celebrate some big event are not generally spur of the moment things.  We don't just throw together whatever we have on hand  and say 'Surprise'.  Spur of the moment parties are great but if it is a really important events, we usually take time to plan it all out.  We find the special invitations, we plan out the food, we match the decorations, we even might come up with a theme. We clean up the house and make sure everythigns looks good. Think about how much time a couple takes when planning a wedding.

Easter is so important that we spend 6 weeks preparing ourselves spiritually. We remind ourselves that we need to clean our spiritual houses.  We take on fasting and penance to put everything in it's proper place and be ready to meet Our Lord on Easter.

May your Lent be one of many graces.

And don't forget to come see us during the Fish Fry 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: Sister Robert Mary

Sister Robert Mary was one of our founding Sisters.  She joined Mother Ellen and the other sisters in order to  begin the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker.  She was born as Catherine Benita Roberts on June 28, 1899 in Waverly, KY one of ten children born to Robert E. Lee Roberts and Annie Clements.  She attended St. Vincent Academy, St. Vincent, KY, and entered religious life on June 8, 1917.  Upon receiving the habit she was given the name Sr. Robert Mary. She spent the next 50 years teaching high school.  At times she held down three assignments simultaneous; Local Superior, Principal and high school teacher.  She became ' semi-retired' in 1971. 

Sister Robert Mary standing next to our Founder, Most Rev. Richard H. Ackerman.

During the turmoil following Vatican II, she joined with Mother Ellen and the other founding sisters. She was hesitant at first, because of the age of the sisters involved.  Many of the sisters were advanced in years.  Sister Robert Mary herself was 75 years old when Rome gave approval for the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker  in 1975.   She was concerned that the sisters who were advanced in years and already retired would be unable to help earn a wage for the support of the community.   

Sister Robert Mary, Sister Alice Martha and Sister Mary Petronilla. 

However, her years with the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker were busy ones as she helped the community in it's formative years where ever and whenever she could. She even took on the assignment of local superior once again at the sister's convent at All Saints Parish in Walton, KY.

She eventually retired to Taylor Manor Nursing Home in Versailles, KY. when her health began to decline.  She battled Dementia for many years before her death on May 22, 1993.  She was 93 years old.  

News and Events: Called to Love

This Saturday is our Called to Love vocation retreat. We are all looking forward to meeting the young women who are coming.  And the women are excited to have an opportunity to grow in their faith and to learn more about God's will in their lives.  We have several different Religious Communities that will be joining us.  Please pray for good weather so all our retreatants are able to make the trip to come.


This past Saturday was the World Day of the Sick.  Unless you are involved in the medical field at a Catholic facility or someone who is Sick, you might not know that the Catholic Church has a World Day of the Sick.  This special day was instituted by Saint Pope John Paul II in 1992.  It is celebrated each year on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11th).

 The World Day of the Sick is meant to be a time of prayer.  It is also a time for anyone who is suffering to offer that suffering for the good of the Church and of the world. Saint Pope John Paul II reminded the sick that their suffereings, "accepted and borne with unshakeable faith" and then joined to the suffering of Christ have extraordinary value.   It is also a reminder for caregivers to see the face of Christ in the sick person.

Saint Pope John Paul II stated in his address that the World day of the sick should serve to reach the consciences of the people "...to make them aware of the valuable contribution which human, and Christian, service to those suffering makes to better understanding among people, and consequently, to build real peace. "   And as we all know, Saint Pope John Paul live these words throughout his own life.  He experienced all sorts of suffering in his life, not just physical illness.  He suffered the pain of losing his loved one at an early age.  He suffered from governement persecution.  If anyone in the modern era can teach us the value and the beauty of sacrificial suffering it is Saint Pope John Paul II.  Perhaps it would be a good idea to read a book about his life and keep in mind that he taught us about about suffering by suffering.

News and Events: Called to Love

Next weekend we are hosting a Discernment Retreat "Called to Love".  It is open to women grade 6th and up.  It will be held at All Saints Parish from 9:00 am - 6:00pm.  If you are wondering what God is asking you to do with your life, this would  be a good place to start.  We look forward to seeing you on February 18th.

Tomorrow, students from Saint Joseph Academy and All Saints Parish will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.  The Most Rev. Roger J. Foys will offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  It is a wonderful day for students, the parish and the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker.  Please pray for the students who will be receiving this outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  You probably know, more then I do, of all the temptations, trials, and challenges that the young face in our society.  The Sacrament of Confirmation can help our young people face all of them with courage.


The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord.  Here is one of my favorite prayers invokes the Holy Spirit and ask for each of His gifts.

O Spirit of Wisdom, preside over all my thoughts, words and actions, from this hour until the moment of my death.

Spirit of Understanding enlighten and teach me.
Spirit of Council, direct my inexperience,
Spirit of Fortitude, strengthen my weakness
Spirit of Knowledge, instruct my ignorance
Spirit of Piety make be fervent in good works.
Spirit of Fear, retrain me from all evil
Spirit of Peace, give my Thy peace.

 Pray that the students will be open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit.