Dear Parents of Saint Joseph,
This week our school will experience a once in a lifetime opportunity. Father Tom, a Salesian priest, who was held captive by ISIS terrorists, will be coming to our community to share his story. He will arrive this weekend and will celebrate the 9:30 am, the 11:30 am and the 7:00 pm Masses on Sunday. After the 11:30 am Mass, there will be a reception and a Q&A session with Father Tom in Notre Dame Hall. All are invited!
On March 4, 2016, a group of unidentified gunmen barged into an elderly care home run by the Missionaries of Charity Sisters in Yemen. The gunmen killed 16 persons, including four Sisters, and kidnapped Father Tom, who was serving as Chaplain. What followed were 557 days of captivity in unknown locations until Father Tom was released on September 12, 2017. Following his release, Father Tom was taken to Rome to meet with Pope Francis. Father Tom’s story of faith, forgiveness and survival is chronicled in his autobiography, “By the Grace of God.”
Father Tom will celebrate our student Mass on Friday, September 21. Following Mass, Father Tom will speak to our 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders about his experience while being held in captivity. He will speak of the power of prayer during his 557 days, and the importance of forgiveness after his release. We are so very blessed to have this opportunity for our students. We are grateful to Father George for arranging this unique opportunity.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
God’s Blessing on Each of Us,
Dr. Marquita Yriarte
Principal
