The week of March 8 – 14 marks Catholic Sisters Week, a national celebration that highlights the service, spirit and strength of Catholic Sisters across the country. In honor of the annual occasion, St. Joseph’s University, New York will be hosting a number of events across both campuses as an institution founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Brooklyn Campus
The Brooklyn campus of SJNY kicked off its festivities on March 5. Students gathered in the Tuohy Hall auditorium during common hour to write letters of gratitude to the Sisters of St. Joseph during the University’s Thank-a-Sister event.
The week itself will begin with Sister Shoutouts, where students can stop by Tuohy 101 all week to write a fill-in-the-blank prompt, “Sisters Are___.” Prompts will then be posted to campus social media pages in recognition of those who have and continue to serve SJNY as faculty, alumni and administrators.
On March 10, the Brooklyn Campus will host a scavenger hunt about the Sisters of St. Joseph. The first winner will receive a prize. The first clue of the hunt can be found at the Student Life Office for those interested in participating.
To close out the week, S. Marie Mackey, CSJ, Director of Campus Ministry on the Brooklyn Campus will be hosting a conversation with students on March 11 during common hour. She will be discussing her ministry work and the path that eventually led her to becoming a Sister of St. Joseph. The talk will take place in the Bear Cave, during which coffee and hot chocolate will be served.
Long Island Campus
The Long Island Campus will honor Catholic Sisters Week on March 9 with a donation drive hosted by Campus Ministry that will run throughout the week. The drive will benefit Lighthouse Mission, a charity organization based in Bellport seeking to provide toiletries to those in need.
Items Campus Ministry are looking for include deodorant, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes and travel-sized
tubes of toothpaste.
“The drive is inspired by the Sisters of St. Joseph’s commitment to serving the dear neighbor, focusing on continuing to help support those in need in our community,” said Jonathan Galo, the Director of Campus Ministry on the Long Island Campus.
Also on March 9, a weekday mass will be held during common hour, placing an emphasis on the Sisters of St. Joseph and their ministry work. Weekday mass takes place in the chapel on the second floor of the Student Center.
Finally, on March 10, students will have the opportunity to participate in a small art project called Sharing of the Heart. During common hour in the Student Center, students can write down recent moments of grace and love in their lives, and these written slips will be combined into a collage.
