Spiritual Life
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Holy Mass and Confession
Weekly School Mass
St. Joseph Academy provides a weekly Mass for the staff, students and parents. Holy Mass is usually scheduled every Friday at 10:20 a.m. Various priests come on a regular basis to celebrate Mass.
"Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to Heaven". -Pope St. Pius X
Confession
St. Joseph Academy offers weekly Confession, during school so that all students attend as a class, in the Octave of First Fridays for students and staff.
"Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin. All hope consists in confession. In confession there is a chance for mercy. Believe it firmly. Do not doubt, do not hesitate, never despair of the mercy of God. Hope and have confidence in confession". -St. Isidore of Seville
Real Presence Eucharistic Education and Adoration Association
Retreats
High School Retreat
Retreats offer a time of quiet reflection and opportunity to grow closer to God. In this society, with all of the noise and distractions, it is difficult to find times of silence where the voice of God can be heard. All high school students attend their class retreat. The retreat takes place during the day, usually at a retreat center. Retreats are led by priests who offer Holy Mass, talks,Confession, rosary and quiet time.
Additional weekend retreat opportunities during Advent and Lent, and monthly spiritual direction and talks, are offered by Fr. Charles Willingham, O'Praem, Norbertine from St. Michael's Abbey throughout the year for both boy and girl high school students.
Teacher Retreat
Teachers attend a one day retreat that is led by a priest. In addition to spiritual talks and guidance, Holy Mass, Confession and rosary are provided.
Following the First Friday school Mass every month, the faculty meets with the presiding priest for spiritual guidance talks on different topics related to their vocation as teachers.
Teachers also attend a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration together every First Friday.
Norbertine Spiritual Direction
Saint Joseph Academy is blessed to have Fr. Charles Willingham, O.Praem of Saint Michael's Abbey on the campus of St. Joseph Academy on a weekly basis providing regular spiritual direction to all of our 8th grade and high school students who desire it. In these meetings, the students may bring up their spiritual or faith related questions and find answers inspired by the principles of the Gospel and faithful to Catholic spiritual and moral doctrine. The spiritual director may also suggest some readings either taken form the Gospel itself, from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, from the lives of the Saints, or from a good spiritual treatise. In addition to offering spiritual direction, Fr. Charles celebrates Mass for the staff and students and hears Confessions of students from all grades levels.
For more than fifty years, St. Michael's Abbey Norbertine Fathers have served the Christian faithful in Southern California- "lifting high the Holy Eucharist over the miseries and errors of this world" (Saint Pope John Paul II). Their community's apostolic ministries are many and various- from teaching religious education in prisons to serving as chaplains to colleges, the military, and communities of religious women- but they all find their source of common life of prayer and fraternal charity.
The spiritual tradition of the saints in the Catholic Church has always viewed spiritual direction—often considered as the “art of all arts”—as an excellent and most appropriate means for the faithful to grow in Christian virtue and discern God’s will in one’s life, thus taking significant steps toward holiness. The aid of a learned and prudent guide, while preserving the freedom of the one directed, motivates the student to progress in maturity and sincerity of heart, to a deeper relationship with God, and to a greater generosity of spirit.
