News Post

St. Joseph’s Academy gathered as a school community on August 15 to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. Father Josh Zelden, SJA’s school chaplain and parochial vicar for Our Lady of Mercy Parish, was the presider. 

Senior Madison Rambo welcomed the large gathering in the Academy Student Center. “On this day, we honor Mary’s assumption into heaven, both body and soul, as a reward for her ‘yes’ to God and to God’s plans for her life,” she said. Freshman Dannie Gray lit the memorial candle to remember the members of the Academy community who have passed away, especially since the last mass. 

Junior Evangeline Martinez read from the Book of Revelation. Senior Marie Helm read from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians. Senior Sophia Montalbano and junior Isabella Walker offered the prayers of the faithful.

Following mass, senior Sophie Stelly, president of the Liturgy Committee, explained that the committee and the Praise and Worship Band are responsible for coordinating school liturgies. She invited students in all grade levels to join the team. 

Theology teacher Jennifer Prather, Sticker Sacks moderator, said that it has been more than 10 years since the student body read An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff. The “all-school summer read” led to the creation of the Sticker Sacks program, in which students, faculty and staff prepare brown bag lunches each week to help feed the hungry through St. Vincent de Paul. The Sticker Sacks program resumes on September 10.

Dean of Women Christina Richardson said that as SJA wraps its first full week of school, it is her hope that this year’s charism theme, Relationships: Sacred Threads that Connect, and the State of Our H.E.A.R.T.S. norms remain at the forefront of the minds of each community member.

She also announced that more than 40 clubs will participate in the annual Club Fair during today’s lunch periods. She encouraged students in all grade levels to visit the various tables to learn more about the many opportunities available. 

Lending their musical gifts to the mass were the Liturgy Choir, under the direction of Danielle Laird, and cantors Molly Kate Skupien and Camille Masterson, both of whom are seniors. Masterson closed the gathering by leading the singing of the alma mater. Musicians were Angela Sneed, piano; Hugo Andricain, guitar; and Stephen Barrios, percussion.