Each year in late January, St. Joseph Mission School joyfully joins over 5,000 Catholic schools and 1. 6 million students across the nation in celebrating Catholic School Week. It is a special time to remember that we are part of a vibrant community that extends far beyond our rural school in northwestern New Mexico. This week is not just about education; it is about embracing our mission to spread Jesus’ love to all who enter our doors. At St. Joseph’s, we pride ourselves on being not just a school, but also a beacon of evangelization. Our commitment shines through in our participation in local feast days at the Tribal communities, service at senior centers, visits to youth with severe disabilities, and community projects such as the re-plastering of the Mission Church of Acoma. Every time we venture into our community, we carry the message of God’s love.

During Catholic School Week, our students dive into exciting projects like the Saint Fair, which we think of as a science fair with a spiritual twist. Students research the life of a saint and presents their findings to the school community. The students’ dedication and creativity make it a tough job for our judges to select a winner! On the first day of the week, we honored our patron saint, St. Joseph, by writing heartfelt letters to our Bishop, school superintendent, priests, and sisters. Each letter expressed gratitude for their vocations and offered prayers for their inspiring work. The next day, we celebrated our community in a beautiful Mass. Students wore traditional dress and wrote encouraging letters to the Tribal leadership of Acoma and Laguna, reflecting our deep respect and connection to our Native neighbors. Wednesday was a day of celebration dedicated to our amazing students. We presented awards recognizing the students’ achievements in Faith, Academics, Culture, Environment, and Service, followed by a lively school dance that brought families together for an afternoon of fun.

On Thursday, we turned our attention to the incredible staff and volunteers whose tireless efforts make our school a thriving place. Each staff member received a poster filled with notes of appreciation from students and families. On Friday, we celebrated our families. The families were invited to come see the presentations of our Saint Fair and recognize the depth of their children's faith journeys. Throughout Catholic Schools Week, we held an Open House for families interested in joining our school community and hosted our beloved Scholastic Book Fair. Students eagerly look forward to bringing home new books to read and share with their families. St. Joseph Mission School’s Catholic School Week was filled with joy, faith, learning, and community spirit.