Catholic Schools Week Celebrated at St. Joseph’s Indian School

Beginning January 26, St. Joseph’s Indian School joined other Catholic schools across the country in celebrating Catholic Schools Week.

prayers for nicholas black elk

This year’s theme at St. Joseph’s Indian School was “Sacred Heart of Jesus.” Faith-based activities included beginning the week with a Lakota Mass on Sunday, a Monday Rosary in honor of Nicholas Black Elk, Lakota catechist who is nominated for sainthood. The week concluded on Friday with a celebration of St. Joseph, the patron of the school.

Throughout the week, homerooms enjoyed other faith-related activities such as “Finding the Sacred Heart,” with stickers placed throughout the school to emphasize the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. A highlight this year were vocation talks by Priests of the Sacred Heart Fr. Greg Schill, SCJ, chaplain and spiritual director at St. Joseph’s along with Frater Truc Tran, SCJ, visiting seminarian. Also sharing their vocation stories were Sr. Clary Joy Palasan and Sr. Yollie Nobabos, Theresian Missionaries of Mary, serving on the missionary team at Lower Brule .

Looking to the broader community, fourth- through sixth-grade students did a food drive for the St. James Parish Food Pantry and seventh and eighth graders rounded up hygiene supplies for the women’s shelter.

Community-based activities included dress-up themed days: Monday – Pajama day, Tuesday – Sunday-best day, Wednesday – Opposite-role day when students dress like adults and vice-versa, Thursday – Twin/triplet-dress day by matching a friend or two, Friday – School-spirit day.

The school also celebrated educational excellence during the week. Students were recognized for achievements with the Reading Yawa Challenge, Young Authors and Young Illustrators Awards. Winners were announced on Friday, January 31 at the Spelling Bee that capped the week’s activities.