The Most Reverend Jerome Listecki, archbishop of Milwaukee, recently visited our school to bless our statue of St. Joseph. He’s never been to St. Joseph Academy before, so Mr. Beadle and Sr. Brendan gave him a tour of our classrooms, too.

The statue of Jesus with St. Joseph has stood in front of Felician Sisters ministries since 1907. Think about how many children and families have passed in front of our statue during that time! Here’s Archbishop Listecki’s blessing:

Bless this statue and all families, O Lord, especially those in need. Remembering the life of your Son, we pray for the poor, for those who lack a good home, for those in exile. Grant them a protector like Joseph, O God. O glorious St. Joseph, you were chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus, the most pure spouse of Mary ever virgin, and the head of the holy family. You have been chosen by Christ’s Vicar as the heavenly patron and protector of the Church founded by Christ. Therefore, it is with great confidence that we implore your powerful assistance for the whole Church on earth, and especially for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

In a couple months, the statue will be refurbished and placed in the lobby of SJA’s new building, which opens in August 2015.

Mr. Beadle ended Archbishop Listecki’s visit to SJA in the Great Room, where all of our students came together to sing him a song. Mr. Beadle and Sr. Brendan presented the archbishop with an SJA uniform shirt and a $100 donation to the SJA General Scholarship Fund in his name.

St. Joseph Academy looks forward to continued guidance from Archbishop Listecki. Thank you for blessing our statue of St. Joseph!