St. Joe Celebrates a Morning to Remember: Mother-Daughter Mass
Apart from the usual Thursday late-start routine at the Academy, last Thursday I had the chance to share a truly special morning with my mom, Jen Duffy ‘94, at the Mother Daughter Mass.
On Thursday, more than any other day, I felt the honor of being sent to a place that feels more and more like a close circle. My mom joined me in reading a petition, which made the experience feel even more meaningful, because we were able to share the moment together. Sitting there, celebrating all the incredible moms in our community, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for their sacrifices and efforts that often go unnoticed. Fr. Craig Holway, the priest from my grade school, Mary Queen of Peace, celebrated the mass, so it was a blessing to be able to come together in prayer.
Celebrating the bond my mom and I share through faith, I was able to start my day filled with deep reflection. Before the mass started, my mom shared her thoughts on the mass.
“I couldn’t imagine St. Joe without the chance to come together,” said Duffy.
Megan Niedringhaus-Hill, our assistant campus minister and the woman behind this event, shares her perspective on this special tradition.
“Our moms do so, so much for us, a lot of which we don’t realize or appreciate until we’re older, and especially if we have kids of our own. I think Mother Daughter Mass is a small way that we can thank the moms and mom-figures in our lives, and spend some time in such a meaningful way—growing in faith together as families and as a community,” said Niedringhaus-Hill.
In addition to nostalgia and reflective insights, Ms. Niedringhaus-Hill shared many meaningful memories of the mass itself.
“First, I’m so thankful for Fr. Craig Holway and the joy that he brought to the Mass. Second, I also love getting to see so many of our students coming together with the moms and mom-figures in their lives. I love getting a glimpse of the love and support that is behind each of the girls here at St. Joe. After all, none of us would be here without our moms,” said Ms. Niedringhaus-Hill.
When you walk into St. Joe, it is important to recognize all the St. Joe moms out there for being the best support system there is, shaping who we are, and setting the standard for us every day.
