On November 14th, the entire Saint Joseph High School community stepped away from the usual routine of classes and work to participate in a day filled with faith, service and reflection for the second annual All Saints Festival. The main theme for the day was centered on the Jubilee Year, a special, sacred year of grace, celebrated by the Catholic Church every 25 years.

The day began with a presentation from a Catholic guest speaker, Meg Hunter-Kilmer, who travels the world telling people about the fierce and tender love of God. Meg focused on the story of Moses and how he served as a role model for responding to God’s call. While Moses himself felt that he was unworthy to carry out the mission God had given him, God still chose him to lead his people. Meg talked to students and connected this idea to their lives, explaining how to recognize God’s call in their lives and even when they feel inadequate, God can still work through them.

Shortly after listening to the guest speaker, students were dismissed back to their assigned cohorts for breakout discussions. Students reflected on the message she shared and discussed how it applied to their own lives. When discussions ended, students participated in a service project organized by the H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Endure) Club. Modge-Podge angel ornaments were created by students that would later be given to families receiving the Thanksgiving food baskets.

Later that afternoon, the entire Saint Joseph High School community walked together on a pilgrimage from Saint Joseph High School to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame, where a beautiful Mass was celebrated to conclude the day. Mrs. Baglow, the lead planner, said, “My favorite part about the all-school pilgrimage was getting to have Mass in the basilica with our entire school community!”