St. Joseph Mission School

Knightly Newsletter

St. Joseph Mission School San Fidel, NM

January 2024

Hello SJMS Community,

This month we have experienced amazing moisture through rain and snow. We celebrate the past harvest of our hunters and our farmers. We continue to pray that our Creator will bless our communities and your loved ones. As we complete the season of Christmas and enter into a new year may we continue to live in the spirit of giving and kindness.

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Please keep our school in prayer as we hold in gratitude our teachers who have served at the school. They are our greatest patrons to ensure the work each day and every minute is being tended to.

In this January Newsletter we want to share about our visit from our local veterans, honoring our elders, and praying in the traditional way.

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Honoring Our Flag and Those Who Defend It

Throughout the school year, the students are tasked with chores around the school and remind them of their responsibility to one another. Each week two students are tasked with putting up the flag and taking it down at the end of the school day. To accompany this responsibility, the school invited the Pueblo of Acoma American Legion Post 116 and LTJG Jewl Reyes Sr (USN) (father of our student Jewl Jr. 4th grade) to share about the meaning of our flag and why we honor it. Students prepared songs and held a mass for our veteran loved ones to honor their sacrifice.

For any community members who are eager to learn more, or require assistance to properly dispose of their flag - we highly encourage you to reach out to your local American Legion Post. Learning from our service members was a remarkable event where even our staff was struck by learnings they had not had the chance to hear before.

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Holding Space for Our Loved Ones Past and Present

During the month of November, the Church prays and remembers those who have passed into the next life. Additionally, we also hold special honors for our Grandparents as well. Students were tasked to work alongside their families to create ofrenda posters which held the names, photographs, and symbols or drawings that represented their loved ones. These ofrendas were hung up on the walls of our chapel for the month - surrounding the school in their company and memory. We learned more about the power of memory of our family members, which is deeply celebrated during the beloved feast days of All Saint’s and All Souls day - spent at home surrounded by family and friends sharing stories over a favorite meal.

For our loved ones who still accompany us, we held a special mass to celebrate our elders in thanksgiving for their particular role they play in the lives of our students - as caretakers, teachers of life and culture. We invite you to share with your loved ones around you a fond memory and story of those who have gone before us.

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Praying in our Catholic Way

Praying in the Traditional Way

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We are looking for educators for our 2024-2025 school year. Currently, we are looking for a Pre-K teacher for this 2023-2024 school year.

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We pray that you and your loved ones enjoy this past holiday season. As we come into the new year we hold in special memory all of our alumni who played a role in our 100 years of Catholic Education.

Please be on the lookout for our Annual Report which includes a timeline of each decade with significant achievements and memories of our school.

You can read more about our school in our Annual Report, available on our website:

ANNUAL REPORT

Photo captured of the Franciscan Brothers from the Cincinnati Province during the original dedication of the school building in 1923.

Please let us know how we can keep you in our prayers, we can ensure to include your intention during our student-lead morning prayer.

Pax Et Bonum,

St. Joseph Mission School

St. Joseph, pray for us.