St. Joseph holds prayer service for closing of school building

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Nov. 30, 2006

St. Joseph Church in Sioux City held a prayer service Nov. 26 for the closing of the parish's school building.

"Today we are closing the doors of the school for our purposes and passing it on to serve the needs of another group," said Father Michael Erpelding, pastor at St. Joseph Church. He mentioned that the Sioux City Public School System planned to purchase the facility and they would continue to use it to educate students. The official transaction was to take place on Dec. 1.

He mentioned that they gathered to pray for all people who were educated in the school as well as offer prayers for the future use of the building. The building had been used for many years to educate children from the parish who had attended St. Joseph School and it later was used as part of the cluster school system as St. Joseph Center of Holy Family School. Holy Family School closed in May of 2002 and since that time the St. Joseph building has been used for parish religious education classes.

The service to close the building for parish use was held following 10:30 a.m. Mass. About 100 people attended the ceremony that began in the church.

It started with a Litany of St. Joseph and was followed by a tribute to the religious sisters who taught at the school, especially the BVM Sisters of Dubuque. Included in this remembrance was a historical overview of Mary Frances Clarke, foundress of the BVMs.

Sister Mary Joel Kramer, a former teacher at St. Joseph School, offered the Prayer for Religious Vocations to the Consecrated Life of Religious Sisters. She taught at the school from 1947 to 1952 and then returned in 1970, retiring in 1992. She remained in Sioux City.

After remembering the sisters, Father Erpelding led a procession to the school building, which is located across the street from the church. The group gathered in the gymnasium.

They remembered former pastors of St. Joseph, especially Msgr. Lilly who led the parish in constructing the building. Father Erpelding recited a Prayer for Priests.

"Let us remember in prayer all the lay teachers and staff, living and dead, who have taught the students in this building," said the priest. "They brought the gifts of their married vocation or single life to bring the love of Jesus to the students. Let us pray in thanksgiving for their dedicated service."

The pastor recited the Prayer for Educators.

A former student at St. Joseph led a prayer for all students who had been educated in the school.

During the service, Father Erpelding asked for the religious sisters, former teachers and staff members from the school and former students to raise their hands so they could be recognized.

The final prayer that was recited in the gymnasium was written in 1914 by Edna O'Shonessy Walding, a former St. Joseph School student who had mourned the loss of her classroom.

After the Prayer for the Closing of the School, the people processed outside.

"We are now closing an era of our history. This building will be used to continue to educate children. We pass it on to the public school," said Father Erpelding.

In a symbolic gesture Father Erpelding locked the doors.

Those gathered recited a prayer of thanksgiving, "In thanksgiving for all the blessings St. Joseph has bestowed upon those who have entered this building, especially those who have been educated here and those who promoted their Christian education. Father you entrusted our Savior to the care of St. Joseph. By the help of his prayers may your church continue to serve its Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives with you and Holy Spirit, on God forever and ever. Amen."

Kathleen Beacom, who attended the school, noted that she wanted to attend the service as a remembrance of the school. The service offered some closure.

Three members of the Darwin family went to the service at the request of Junior Darwin, who is presently a junior at Briar Cliff. He attended K-5 at the St. Joseph Center of Holy Family School and then attended the Epiphany Center of Holy Family for 6-8.

"I thought this would be my last chance to go into the school," he said.

Going into the school brought back memories for him. Walking past the music room, he remembered that he hated going to music class but now ironically he is a music/elementary education major at Briar Cliff.

He described his education at the school as great and mentioned that "this is where it all started."

Junior's sister, Janell, attended K-5 at the school with the exception of the second grade, which she attended at the St. Boniface Center of Holy Family School. When Holy Family School closed, she went to Sacred Heart Grade School.

She liked going into the school because of the many positive memories it brought back.

Their mother Julie mentioned that she was in the last graduating class at St. Francis in 1970 and then her brothers went to St. Joseph School.

Being part of the prayer service and touring the school also brought back memories for Sister Mary Joel.

"I loved it. I thought it was so wonderful they held the prayer service," she said.

Mary Sam Hacker, a parishioner at Immaculate Conception in Sioux City, attended St. Joseph School in the 1950s, graduating from eighth grade in 1962.

"It was a family tradition. My great grandparents, grandparents and parents all attended either church or school here," she noted.

Hacker remembers her kindergarten teacher, Sister Mary Clemento and her music teacher, Sister Mary Anita Francis, both whom are still living in Dubuque. Hacker remains in contact with them and was able to attend of both the sisters' 50th anniversary celebrations.

"It was a very special part of my life," noted Hacker, who added that she had five relatives who were BVM sisters. "The BVMs were a part of my families lives for generations. The school holds a lot of memories of love and fun. I wanted to be here for memory sake. The school has always held a special part in my families heart and always will - but we must move on."