Justine Benedict, Middle school art and religion teacher

Hello Holy Family! I am the Middle School religion and art teacher. I am integrating Catholic religious education with the visual arts to help students encounter God, deepen their understanding of the faith, and creatively express what they learn through the study, analysis, and creation of sacred art. It is through God’s design that has equipped me to take on this role. I grew up in Paonia, CO where I met and married my husband. We have three wonderful children. I’ve taught religious education as a catechesis teacher both in Paonia and at IHM. I graduated from Colorado Mesa University with my Bachelors degree in K-12 Art Education. I enjoy all the mediums, but my specialty is in pottery and wheel throwing. I was the secretary for Sacred Heart Catholic church in Paonia for 3 years and the Faith Formation Coordinator at IHM for 1 year. I have been the art teacher at HFCS for the past 8 years, K-8 for 5 years and then 3rd-8th grades the past 3. I have coordinated the IHM Vacation Bible School for the past 5 summers. I have also taught art classes to youth at The Art Center here in Grand Junction, and clay classes at Angelo’s Pottery. 

In my personal life I enjoy traveling abroad, having been to Italy, Germany and Greece, along with camping, creating, playing the piano and reading. My travels to Vatican City, Milan, and Florence strengthened my love for the Catholic faith by showing me how sacred art has the power to reveal God's truth and beauty, an experience that continues to inspire the way I teach today. Looking back, I can see how God has woven together each chapter of my journey in Catholic ministry, education, travel and the arts to uniquely prepare me for this role, and I am honored to guide students as they encounter Christ through both faith and artistic expression.