Faith Formation
Faith is an integral part of St. Mary's Catholic School. Catholic and Non — Catholic students attend all religion classes, prayer services, and liturgies as an integral part of the life of the school. Religious instruction; prayer throughout the day; and integrated value formation are fostered throughout the curriculum as daily practices.
Through religious education, weekly Mass and prayer, our students plan and participate in prayer services and liturgies. They learn formal prayer and grow accustomed to praying spontaneously as well as the principal teachings of the Church as taught by Scripture and tradition. Our second grade students prepare for and receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. And all students are taught the elements of appropriate behavior in Church - reverence, prayer, posture, genuflection, silence and the like.
Religious formation and education is taught on a daily basis to provide instruction and experience in the Catholic faith so that the graduate of St. Mary's has learned God's message as proclaimed by the Church; realized Jesus' presence in prayer and worship; and the essentials of Catholic doctrine.
Parents have an obligation, not only to ensure the fact that a child attends Mass, but also that he grows in understanding and participation in Mass. The school supplements this training, but no amount of training in school can supplant the example of regular family participation. Students attend Mass weekly on Thursday mornings at 8:15am. Students attend Mass on holy days of obligation and various feast days throughout the year. Participation during Mass and frequent reception of the Eucharist are encouraged. Participation includes planning a liturgy during the school year, lectoring, cantoring, gift bearing, altar serving, and singing. In addition, students have the opportunity for Reconciliation during Advent and Lent.
Growth in holiness depends largely on prayers. A child should learn his first prayers at home. Morning and night prayers, grace before and after meals, and the observance of the feasts and seasons of the Church year are important parts of family life. Teachers pray with their students at the beginning and close of each day. Grace is prayed before and after lunch and formal prayers are assigned for memorizing and understanding according to the student’s grade level.
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