News Post

A group of St. Joseph’s Academy students spent a week in western Kentucky, serving the dear neighbor as part of Catholic Mission Trips Inc.’s outreach to those in need. The trip took place June 12-18.

The week began with mass at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville. Trip participants then spent Monday through Thursday in Benton, Kentucky, working at a man’s home that had been destroyed by a tornado and then fire. He also suffered the loss of his wife and granddaughter.

Friday was spent in Mayfield, Kentucky, at a tornado relief site. The week ended with a free day in Nashville, shopping on 12th Avenue S and visiting the Dominican Motherhouse of St. Cecelia. 

Evenings were spent in team-bonding activities, games, listening to worship music, listening to talks and participating in small groups. 

“I hope that the girls recognize how much they were able to impact those they encountered,” said trip chaperone Jade Spears, who is SJA’s assistant campus minister. “They built a porch for a man who has been through more in the past six months than many deal with in a lifetime. It was beautiful to watch them serve the dear neighbor but also learn how to use tools. The students truly had sleeves rolled up for ministry and celebrated the end of the week with a fun day in Nashville. We were blessed to see the Dominican Motherhouse and to join them for vespers and the rosary.”

Rising senior Mary DeMoss said the group’s work left her with a feeling of accomplishment. “We collected pennies and cleaned them for Sam,” DeMoss said. “These pennies were very sentimental to him because he used to collect them. For the rest of the week, we built a porch. Sam was beaming when we finished. He loved it and was so excited. We were all there for each other. Ultimately, the trip is to serve others and live through God. We kept that in the front of our minds throughout the week.”

Rising senior Cassi Miller said she enjoyed the hands-on work the missionaries did for Mr. Sam. “All of us learned how to use a screwdriver and the basic skills of measurements and how to put pieces into place to help with the porch,” Miller said. “We also stained all of the wood that was used for the porch. Mr. Sam was very nice and gave us ice cream every single day. I think that we all learned a lot from this experience, and we all hope to bring back what we learned and make a difference in someone’s life here at home.”
 

Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director