Joliet Catholic Academy engaged in its 6th annual All-School Retreat and Service Day on Wednesday October 3. This year JCA expanded to include the freshman class as well, as the senior class, all engaged in community service projects in the greater Joliet area. The seniors and freshmen worked in mixed groups, a great way to get the two classes to mingle and get to know one another in a big brother/sister kind of way.
The junior and sophomore classes were engaged in a day of reflection lead by NET Ministries Retreat Team and the Diocese of Joliet Youth Ministry team. They spent the day hearing talks and doing activities to help the students deepen their faith.
The Senior and Freshman classes were all off campus serving the poor and needy in the local community. The service projects included work at food banks, shelters, care of the elderly, animal care and environment care. Feed My Starving Children provides food for the poor in foreign countries. Hands of Hope and Northern Illinois Food Bank provide food and aid for the local poor. A group of students worked at the Habitat for Humanity Restore as well as on a building project for Habitat. A new site to JCA this year was Holsten Human Development Group which is managing the Riverwalk Apartments, where students worked in a food pantry and at a community garden site. A group of Spanish speaking students served at the Morningstar Mission for their registration drive for Thanksgiving and Christmas needs. Several students learned about care for the elderly by working at Our Lady of Angles and the Willows senior housing and nursing care homes. A large group learned about environmental care by serving with the Will County Forest Preserve at Theodore Marsh. Still another JCA group of seniors and freshmen learned about both the needs of people with certain disabilities as well as animal care by helping at Ready Set Ride Therapeutic Riding Stables. Lastly, students cared for God’s creation by spending the day at Joliet Animal Control and Hopeful Tails shelters. The enjoyed bathing, walking and caring for the dogs and cats.
The annual Service and Retreat Day truly shows the best of JCA as a community that prays together and works together for the good of others.
Click Here to view the entire Service and Retreat Day photo gallery.
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