The Rhodes Ahead
October 17, 2025
From Mrs. Rhodes
Dear Families,
It has been another great full week at SHOJ. I wish pictures could capture what we see on faces to tell the whole story. The students were so attentive to the presentation on how Apps can trap you. Our presenter was so complimentary of SHOJ - saying he has been in many schools and there is something special going on here.
The faces of the students that played with Fr. Joseph at recess, when he went to answer a question that was asked on the way out of Mass was priceless. It was a beautiful scene seeing them gathered around him and then shooting goals together! Reading the prayer intentions that the students wrote from their faith family activity that were presented with the gifts at Mass on Wednesday were amazing. Unbound Organization (the organization that we sponsor students through) dropped in for a visit and shared some great service opportunities coming up.
Other students visited Holy Name as a precursor to the book fair and came back just glowing! The students that accepted their trophy at the SJA debate tournament were also so proud of how all their hard work paid off. Just a great week at school!
We are so excited what the conference next Monday and Tuesday will do our staff. The Bible says it is both FAITH and WORKS that are expected. A Catholic school is similar, FAITH and ACADEMICS. The following information about Duc in Altum (DIA) is from their website diaschools.org:
Our Mission
DIA Schools Collaborative seeks to share the collective wisdom and resources of its like-minded, faith-filled school members for the betterment of each institution, the growth and support of passionately Catholic education at-large, and the transformation of the culture of our society.
DIA Schools Collaborative Belief Statements
- We are schools committed to supporting the New Evangelization of the Catholic Church in the United States.
- We are schools who have a deep and abiding love for the Catholic Church and all her teachings.
- We are schools who maintain that the ongoing spiritual formation of students, parents, faculty, and staff alike is at the heart of the work we are called to do as Catholic schools.
- We are schools committed to sharing our best practices, resources, and personnel for our mutual benefit.
- We are schools open to sharing relevant data in order to establish performance benchmarks in all facets of school administration.
- We are schools with leadership committed to meeting frequently to collaborate and advance the mission of the collaborative.
- We are schools that believe parents are the primary educators and, as such, must be fully supported in their efforts to provide an integral formation to their children.
- We are schools that strive to live the works of mercy and reflect the missionary nature of the Catholic Church.
This is a blessing to have the conference be down the street this year for our staff to attend. I can't wait to share what we learn!
God bless,
Kathy
Rock the Lot with Current Band Members and SHOJ Alumni
BPU Visited with the Bucket Truck for 8th Grade Careers Class
SHOJ Debate Took 3rd in SJA Tournament
Parish Opportunities
Capital Campaign FAQ
Week 6 FAQ is out now! Click here to learn more.
Missed a previous FAQ? You can find all the previous weeks on our website here.
Leadership Team Initiatives: Check out what our parish accomplished this past quarter and see what’s ahead in the next one here.
EVENTS
Encounter Conference: The conference is two-days at SHoJ to teach, impart and activate Christians to be a more effective minister of Jesus' healing in the world. It is Friday, November 14 (6-9pm) and November 15 (8am-9:30pm.) You are free to attend as much of the conference as you wish. There is also a Healing Service on November 15 at 6:30pm that is free and open to the public. No meals will be included, but there will be mealtime breaks. Find more information and registration here.
Healing Service: On November 15th at 6:30 PM there will be an Encounter Healing Service here at Sacred Heart. The service is completely FREE - you won't want to miss this powerful opportunity for healing!
Family Advent Workshop: Bring the whole family to the Family Advent Workshop on Sunday, November 16, from 1:30–3:00 PM in the MPC! Enjoy an afternoon of Advent story time, crafts, treats, and fellowship while discovering simple ways to celebrate the season at home. Sign-up here.
MINISTRY
OCIA Prayer Partners: Please keep in your prayers the men and women who are discerning the Catholic faith. Your prayers are a vital way to support and accompany them on their journey of faith. May the Holy Spirit guide them and may they feel the love and welcome of our parish community.
Click here for prayer instructions and to sign-up.
Coffee & Donuts: We all love our Sunday Coffee and Donuts—but we need your help to keep them going! Each weekend, hundreds of people enjoy fellowship and a sweet treat, but we’re short on volunteers to serve. If every family took just one Sunday a year, we’d have the whole calendar filled! It’s an easy and fun way to serve the parish community together. Sign-up here!
Christmas Basket Drive: Sacred Heart Parish is helping the Vaughn Trent Community Center provide 200 Christmas Dinner Baskets for families in need. Bring donated food items before or after any Mass Nov. 1–2. Items include canned corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, mac & cheese, stuffing, cake mix, and frosting. Sign-up here.
SHOJ Rosary Ministry
St. Benedict Rosary Prayer Group will meet on the little playground at 3:06 each Wednesday to pray The Rosary (or at least part of it) for SHOJ school. All are welcome, even littles can come play while you pray. Please join us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic school
Email: kathy.rhodes@shoj.org
Website: school.SHOJ.com
Location: 21801 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS, USA
Phone: 9134225520
Facebook: facebook.com/SacredHeartCatholicSchool