Mass opens Catholic Schools Week

By Beth Boudreau 

Director of Advancement, St. Joseph School 

WEBSTER – On Sunday the St. Joseph School community gathered to kick-off Catholic Schools Week. The day began with a Mass celebrating National Migration Week, a tradition that the students look forward to each year. The children and families of St. Joseph School represent various cultures, and they enjoy sharing and recognizing each other’s heritage.  

Nine countries were represented in the presentation of flags: The United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ireland, Nigeria, Poland, Puerto Rico, and Uganda. The students carried flags and wore costumes reflecting their heritage. Bishop McManus was the main celebrant and homilist and spoke about the importance of Catholic schools. He reflected on the morning’s Gospel, Mark 1:21-28, in which Jesus taught the crowd at Capernaum with authority. Jesus’ message was to repent and believe in the Gospel.  

Bishop McManus then asked the congregation to reflect on three questions, “Where did I come from? Where am I going? And how do I get there?” He stressed that the answers to these questions can only be taught in Catholic schools because they are, “I come from God, I am going home to God, and to get there, the Catholic faith teaches us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.”  Jesus taught, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.” Bishop McManus concluded by reminding the faculty, students, and parents in attendance and those watching the LIVE Facebook stream that Jesus is our hope for eternal life. A Catholic education opens the way for us to go through this life and enter into glory with God forever.   

In addition, the Catholic Schools Week celebration at St. Joseph School features the Roadmap to Excellence and the Year of Saint Joseph. Following the Migration Mass, Bishop McManus toured St. Joseph School. He visited with small groups of students to learn about their classroom themes, which include: PreK-3 year-old program – Community Circle, PreK-4 year-old program – Winter Way, Kindergarten –Arctic Animal Avenue, Grade 1 – Streets of Matter, Grade 2 – Habitat Highway, Grade 3 – State Street, Grade 4 – Highway of Faith, Excellence, and Service, Grade 5 – Poetry Parkway, Grade 6 – Excellence Drive, Grade 7 – Fine Arts-Way, Grade 8 – Over There Boulevard, and Religion (grades 5-8) – Faith Terrace.  

Unlike years past, the tour was closed to parents and prospective families because of COVID-19 restrictions and protocols. However, before kicking-off Catholic Schools Week, St. Joseph School teachers and students created video presentations of their work.  

To view these presentations and get a glimpse inside St. Joseph School’s classrooms, visit the school’s website, sjs-webster.com.  

 – For more information or to schedule an afternoon, evening, or weekend tour of the school, call 508-943-0378. (Photos by Beth Boudreau)

SEE PHOTO ALBUM