October 9, 2025

St. Mary’s High School honors the Sisters of St. Joseph in advance of anniversary

REGIONAL
Story and photo by Carolee McGrath

WESTFIELD – Students at St. Mary High School in Westfield spent time with several Sisters of St. Joseph in advance of the congregation’s 375^th anniversary, Thursday, Oct. 2. The students and sisters gathered for lunch and conversation, before touring the high school, which they founded in 1899. St. Mary’s Parish School was founded in 1898, and five Sisters of St. Joseph taught the 150 students enrolled.  

 “This is in recognition of the sister’s anniversary and the history and legacy of their role at St. Mary’s,” said Rob Lepage, assistant principal. “More than 200 sisters served here in the last 125 years.”

Fourteen sisters were able to join for the celebration.

“The reason St. Mary’s is here is because of the Sisters of St. Joseph,” said Matt Collins, the principal of St. Mary High School.

Collins, a St. Mary’s High School graduate, addressed the sisters after lunch in the school gym where all of the students gathered for a picture.

“On behalf of St. Mary’s High School, thank you so much,” Collins said.

Some of the sisters in attendance worked at St. Mary’s High School and at St. Mary’s Parish School.

“I love this place, I really do,” said Sister of St. Joseph Christine Lavoie, who served as principal at the parish school for 17 years.

“I was delighted to be invited first of all. But to be able to come back and now several of those teenagers came over because I had them as little kids. So, it was awesome to see it. I am so proud of the people in this school. They worked so hard to keep this school alive and going. It’s a great place to work,” she said.

St. Mary’s High School is based on the legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph, “to unite neighbor with neighbor and neighbor with God.”

“I think it’s really great, especially having students meeting sisters. It’s really great to be able to talk to them and I think it’s fun for them as well,” said St. Mary senior, Mia Nagle. “I was talking to one sister who has been on mission trips to Africa. That was really amazing.”

The Sisters of St. Joseph will be marking their anniversary, Sunday, Oct. 19 at Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield with a 2 p.m. Mass and reception to follow.