News Post
Students Embark on Mission Trip to Desert Southwest
Seven St. Joseph’s Academy students and eight students from Catholic High School spent June 6-13 in Klagetoh, Arizona, serving the Navajo people on Saint Anne’s Mission. The trip, sponsored by CHS, followed the summer’s first trip to the Desert Southwest on May 27-June 3, which was sponsored by SJA. Chaperones were Chelsea Colomb, SJA campus minister, and CHS faculty members Scott Manning, Daniel Bordelon and Jaime Olinde.
After arriving on Saturday evening, the travelers had dinner at Saint Anne’s Mission with the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and a Dominican Sister who operate the mission and serve those in need.
On Sunday, the group attended mass then visited All Saints Church in Ganado to invite the children to Bible school. After a visit to the Hubbell Trading Post, the students spent the evening preparing for the upcoming week’s Bible school, which consisted of games, music, instruction and arts and crafts with various themes of scripture to enable the children to learn more about Jesus.
The group also enjoyed opportunities to be immersed in the Navajo culture, including visits to Window Rock, the Navajo Nation’s capital; the Navajo zoo and museum; and Gallup to see the local Garifuna dancers.
Friday began with mass with the Brothers at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Holbrook to celebrate their feast day on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The rest of the day was spent in the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest and a visit to Winslow.
“I hope the students recognize the impact they can have on others even in the smallest of ways,” Colomb said. “It’s not always about quantity, but about quality. The relationships built with those they served can have lasting impacts. It is through these relationships and service to others that we can be the hands and feet of Christ to those most in need.”