Let the Good Times Roll: Blessed Sacrament’s Mardi Gras Celebration Marks 25 Years

Brittney Osborn


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Let the Good Times Roll: Blessed Sacrament’s Mardi Gras Celebration Marks 25 Years

The vibrant spirit of New Orleans will take over St. Bernards Auditorium on March 1 as Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church hosts its 25th annual Mardi Gras celebration, a cherished tradition and beloved fundraiser for the church’s Catholic school. From a delicious dinner of Cajun fare to music, auctions and a parade, this year’s celebration marks a quarter-century of community, faith and festive giving.

Mary Kay Jones has served as principal of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School since 2017, and her children were the fourth generation in the family to attend the school. She and her husband, Robert, and their family are also parishioners of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

The school, which accepts students Pre-K through 6th grade, has a long and rich history in Jonesboro.

“Our school began in 1886 in Downtown Jonesboro,” said Jones. “The Olivetan Benedictine Sisters were instrumental in helping it become established. Many of the sisters served in administration and faculty. Today, the sisters visit our school on occasion for special events with the students.”

Twenty-five years ago, the school held its first Mardi Gras celebration as a way to help raise funds for operation.

“In 2000, a group of school parents approached administrators with the idea of starting a unique fundraiser that combined their Catholic faith with the celebration of Mardi Gras,” said Jones. “Since then, it has become a successful annual event. Celebrating Mardi Gras in Jonesboro is synonymous with BSCS and means that you will have a great time raising funds for a good cause.”

Today, the highly-anticipated event raises essential funds for an ever-growing school. Blessed Sacrament Catholic School is now home to 143 students in Pre-School 3 to 6th grade, as well as two administrators, one full-time support staff member, 10 full-time faculty members and 14 part-time staff members.

Jones says that there has been an uptick in enrollment in recent years with the addition of a new school building.

“With our campus located on approximately 20 acres off Highland, we have room to grow,” she said. “The school relocated to this location in 2011. Our church relocated from downtown in 2019, the expansion of our Parish Hall with a state-of-the-art kitchen was completed in 2020, a soccer field was installed in 2023 and a columbarium alongside the church is under construction. Both the church and the school are experiencing growth in numbers as more people are joining the church and enrolling their children in the school.

“In recent years, Blessed Sacrament Catholic School has experienced an increase in enrollment by 36%. The school has over 14 different nations represented in its student body. Over 20% of the school’s student body are African American, Asian, Indian and Latino.”

One of the most beloved parts of the Mardi Gras celebration is recognizing and honoring the king and queen. The royalty is selected each year as a way to honor two individuals, or a couple, who have shown tremendous support for the school, namely through volunteering their time.

“The 2025 Mardi Gras King and Queen are Catherine and Duane Weems,” said Jones. “They were selected for their years of service to Blessed Sacrament Catholic School and church. Catherine and Duane became parishioners of BSC in 2015. Both became involved in Parish activities. They enrolled their sons in BSCS preschool in 2018 and jumped right into PTO.
“What started as a volunteer serving school lunches, Catherine became our dining hall manager in 2021 and considers it a labor of love, serving delicious meals along with lots of smiles. Both Catherine and Duane volunteer teaching Faith Formation classes at BSC, Vacation Bible School and organizing kitchen volunteers for Fall Festival and Mardi Gras. Duane serves on our Parish Council.”

Although the Mardi Gras celebration provides a night of fun and revelry for its attendees, it also helps to provide benefits to the school in the areas of scholarship, curriculum enhancement, technology, special projects and teacher retention.

Jones says her hope for the future of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School is to always keep its mission first and foremost: “To inspire excellence and character formation rooted in scripture and Catholic tradition.”

“We will continue to offer an education of the whole person: body, mind, heart and spirit,” she said. “Administration and faculty, along with our families, will continue to strive for opportunities and experiences that offer educational and personal growth. Our focus, while consistently strong in academics, is also to continue to shape future citizens and leaders of our world. Learning how to use our talents in service for Christ and others is a pillar of a BSCS education.”

The evening of Mardi Gras includes traditional Cajun fare courtesy of Popeye’s, Ben-Yays, Sugar Grits and Golden Corral, as well as ribs grilled by the Knights of Columbus and jambalaya prepared by a school family with Louisiana roots. Live and silent auctions, as well as a parade led by the king and queen, add to the festivities of the evening. Everyday Life, featuring a horn section, will provide music.

The 25th annual Mardi Gras Celebration will take place on March 1 at St. Bernards Auditorium, 505 E. Washington Ave., from 6-11 p.m. For more information about the fundraiser or the school, call (870) 932-3684 or visit catholicjonesboroschool.com.

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