St. Joseph's Academy

For this year's Mission Week schedule of events,
click here.

What is Mission Week and why is it so important here at the Academy?

"When you work for the (dear) neighbor, do it with a very unselfish love which expects no reward for its services, and aim at nothing other than helping him or her and being at the same time pleasing to God."
 Maxim 35, Sisters of St. Joseph

Our annual Mission Week is a cherished tradition at St. Joe. Our school motto, "Not I, But We," becomes a lived reality as the entire school community joins forces in raising awareness of our missions at home and abroad. Mission Week enables us to fulfill one of the goals of our school philosophy – to extend our awareness of community to our brothers and sisters in the larger Christian communities.

A little History:

The Mission Week that we now know and love evolved from a much simpler event. It began simply as a Mission Day in homeroom in 1953. In 1956 and 1957, a Penny Queen was announced at a Christmas Carnival, but with no mention of Mission Day. In 1958, 1960 and 1961, it was called Japan Day with the theme "Hearts for Japan" and the money went to a school in Tsu. There was mention of an Empress of Japan, which then apparently returned to the Penny Queen idea. Mission week has occurred throughout the past in May, January, or November. In the January 1961 issue of Sajoac, St. Joe’s newspaper of the time, says, "As is the custom, Mission Day will be held as close as possible to January 6, the feast of the Epiphany. In this manner just as the wise man gave their gifts to the Christ Child, the monetary gifts from St. Joe will be given to the missions." In 1961, Mission Day was organized by a Mission Club and the funds were raised for the missions in Peru and Japan. In 1962, the monies raised were given to the Sisters of St. Joseph to start three new missions in Peru. Since 1963, profits from Mission week have been donated to both Peruvian missions as well as domestic mission work. When Mission Day became a week-long event in the fall of 1967, it spanned from Thursday to Thursday with Friday off. That tradition changed in 2006. Mission week now spans from Monday to Friday, with the following Monday off as a thank you to the students for working so hard during Mission week.

Mission Week was based on providing a service (such as raking leaves, cleaning windows, babysitting, cleaning classrooms) and then contributing the donations received for the service to the missions. Students exhibit their many talents by making jewelry, scarves, or selling homemade goodies during the week. The activities of Mission Day varied from time to time, including liturgy, student-faculty games (i.e., volleyball, contests, Jeopardy, etc.), the now infamous Faculty Show, but always culminating with the Senior spaghetti dinner, the carnival booths, and the crowning of the Penny Queen. Each class nominates a Penny Queen candidate with the winner determined by the class that earns the most money per capita within the designated time frame of Mission Week.

The following email (sent to Principal Sr. Pat Dunphy in 2006) reminds us just how much Mission Week touches the hearts of those who have witnessed it.

Dear Sisters Pat and Suzanne, and all at St. Joseph's Academy -

Your message came today (All Saints' Eve) re: the coming Mission Activities at SJA. One of my treasured memories is 1962, when I was a (young) teacher there. Sister Anne Gregory (may she rest in God's Peace!) was a spitfire on the basketball court - small, and a perfect shooter. We (faculty) played the seniors as a 25-cent admission donation as part of the activities. Of course, faculty won, with pinned up Habits and tied back Veils. When we came into the gym, the student body sang, "O, when the saints come marching in..." It's great to know that the tradition continues. At 80, I just retired in June…How I'd love to be there to help you celebrate our Missions.
Be assured of my prayerful support from Peoria.

Blessings, Sister Roberta Houlihan

It is an amazing, exhausting, spirit-filled, much loved time at St. Joe.

Alums wishing to share their favorite Mission Week memory can email Jen Sudekum at jsudekum@stjosephacademy.org.