In the spirit of Thanksgiving, St. Joseph Hill Academy always answers the call to make God’s love visible to all. This Thanksgiving season our community has done so in numerous ways.
Elementary School families participated in a canned food drive for the Good Counsel Food Pantry. High School families made food donations to Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Michael in Brooklyn, United American Methodist Episcopal Church food pantries and Project Hospitality. The High School also collected funds to provide supermarket gift cards for 25 families of Mt. Carmel-St. Benedicta-Assumption Parish. Families of both schools also participated in the Staten Island Giving Circle's Pie Drive.
Additionally, SJHA High School students volunteered at Project Hospitality's new food pantry and soup kitchen in Manhattan and were the only Catholic high school present.
The High School’s Caring Cards Club continued their tradition of creating Thanksgiving-themed greeting cards. They were shared with residents of Clove Lakes Health Care, Carmel Richmond Nursing Home, Eger Health Care, Golden Gate Health Care, Sea View Nursing Home, the St. Joseph Hill Convent, and FDNY and NYPD first responders.
WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR! Most importantly, we reflect on our gratitude for the entire St. Joseph Hill Academy community. It is because of you that our school is able to give back to the community so generously.
We thank you and wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving!
A Message of Thanksgiving from St. Joseph Hill Academy President Sister Mary Coffelt, F.D.C.
Dear Ms. Campbell, Mr. Hansen, School Board Members, Administration, Faculty, Staff, Parents, Students, Alumni, Benefactors and Friends,
On behalf of the Daughters of Divine Charity of Holy Family Province I wish to extend our heartfelt wishes for a Thanksgiving Day of blessings shared with family and friends especially for good health. We have so much to be thankful for despite the many challenges and uncertainties of our world today.
May this Thanksgiving be a time for all of us to take a moment in silent prayer thanking God for all that we have and enjoy each day. A prayer of heartfelt gratitude for the loving hands that prepared the meal we will enjoy around the table and for family who are with us in spirit sharing memories of past thanksgivings and creating new memories of 2023. We need to also remember those who are suffering in any way and do not have what we enjoy and perhaps take for granted.
The Sisters and I have much to be thankful for. To the educational community of St. Joseph Hill Academy, the administration, faculty, staff, parents, alumni , we are indeed grateful to all who continue to support our mission of educating our youth and “making God’s love visible” each and every day. To our students who strive to do their very best, to be respectful in and outside of class, to study hard, play fairly and demonstrate their faith and love for Jesus by their actions and many kindnesses, I thank you.
I pray that our students PreK through 12 are developing the importance of a loving attitude of gratitude for all the blessing they have received. The Daughters of Divine Charity are appreciative and grateful to our many donors and benefactors for supporting and investing in Catholic education, making this educational journey possible for all our students to enjoy and thrive at St. Joseph Hill Academy.
The month of November 2023 is coming to an end. Let us pause during our meal together as a family to remember all our faithful departed as we pray:
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and all the souls of our faithful departed rest in eternal peace.
May almighty God bless you and your families not only on this Thanksgiving Day but every day with a thankful heart to Jesus for the gifts we have been given, the love and joy we share as a community of faith and learning.
With a grateful heart, love and prayers,
Sister Mary and Sisters
P.S. A Prayer to Share with family and friends.
