St. Joseph School Kicks Off the School Year by Polly Maciulski

Diocesan Retired Priests’ Fund: SJS begins school-wide collection in 2019-20 T his month, St. Joseph Catholic School will begin a collection at the second school Mass of each month to benefit the Diocesan Retired Priests’ Fund in the Diocese of Shreveport. Students, faculty and staff learned about the purpose of the collection in Religion classes and during faculty meetings, especially as it relates to virtues, as part of the school’s Education in Virtue program. Parishioner Ron Looney has trained students to serve as ushers, responsible for passing the baskets among their classmates and teachers.

When asked why we should give to such a fund, SJS 7th grader Teresa Franks replied, “they teach us about God, they let us receive Jesus in the Eucharist, they heal our hearts...I think we should have a collection for retired priests because they help bless us in sacraments and they say Mass for us, and they don’t get paid much.” As Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Matthew, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (MT 6:21). It is our hope that when the official collection is taken up throughout the Diocese of Shreveport the weekend of May 2-3, 2020, it will show that the hearts of our students and faculty at SJS will be with our retired priests this school year. St. Joseph School Kicks Off the School Year By Polly Maciulski

St. Joseph Catholic School hosts NCEA President during Teacher Inservice Shreveport-area Catholic schools come together to celebrate Mass O n Monday, August 5th, one week before the first school bells sounded to ring in the 2019-20 school year, the faculty and staff of the three Catholic schools in Shreveport gathered at St. Joseph Catholic Church to celebrate Mass and to welcome the President of the National Catholic Educators Association (NCEA), Tom Burnford. Reverend Matthew Long, Pastor of St. Joseph Church, was the main celebrant, but was joined by his brother priests: the Very Rev. Peter Mangum, Diocesan Administrator and Rector of the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans; the Very Rev. Rothell Price, Moderator of the Curia and Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish; and Rev. Fidel Mondragon, Pastoral Administrator of Christ the King Parish. Also in attendance were Diocesan Schools Superintendent Sr. Carol Shively, OSU, and Associate Superintendent for Child Nutrition and Curriculum, Sr. Ann Middlebrooks, SEC.

In his homily, Fr. Long reminded those gathered that those of us ministering in Catholic schools today cannot move forward if we continue to dwell in the past: the “good ol’ days” of Catholic education that many of us remember fondly - classrooms bursting at the seams, led by Jesuits and nuns. Today’s Catholic school days are different, and we must look forward, not backward, and appreciate the advantages and opportunities that lay before us.

Following the Mass, Mr. Burnford addressed the group at a brunch held in the St. Joseph Family Life Center. He encouraged faculty and staff to remember the family atmosphere that makes our Catholic schools so unique.

“What a great first day back at SJS: beginning the day with Mass for all faculty of St. Joseph’s, St. John’s and Loyola was truly special,” said Hallie Franks, ELA Middle School teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School. “Mr. Burnford discussed the great impact of a Catholic School education... I already believed that a Catholic education is an amazing thing: having Mr. Burnford reiterate all that I already believed was inspiring.” Hallie Franks, ELA Middle School teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School. By Polly Maciulski