Faith Experiences

Prayer:

• School wide Friday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation – each class plans and participates
• Morning prayer with entire school
• Prayers before “Special” Classes, competitions, assemblies, meetings, other school events, and end of the school day,
• Grace before lunch and after lunch
• Recitation of the rosary daily in October and May
• Prayer corners with the Bible enthroned in each classroom
• Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays
• Participation in Parish Forty Hours Devotion
• Regular reception of Reconciliation
• Seasonal prayer services, i.e., Advent Wreath Service, Stations of the Cross,
• Choir prepares sacred music for school liturgies and prayer services

Learning about Catholic History & Traditions:

• Daily Religion Classes
• Weekly religion classes taught by OMPH Priests
• Sacramental preparations:
  • Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
  • Confirmation
• Recognition of the lives of saints
• Recognition of special events/celebrations in the Church: Year of Mercy
• Lenten Practices and Services
• Collections of Catholic books in library and classrooms
• Religious art:
  • Crucifixes
  • Bulletin Boards
  • Statues
  • Banners
  • Pictures
  • Art Projects
• Saint Nicholas visits the classrooms on his Feast Day
• Blessing of Throats on Feast of St. Blaise

Experiencing Christ’s Way in Ordinary Living:

• Annual school themes – e.g., “God’s Love for us … Know it, Grow it, Show it!”
• Catholic/Christian perspective related to academic curriculum on daily basis
• Retreats for students in middle school
• Prayers for the sick
• Prayers for the benefactors of the school
• Prayer Pals – each grade is matched with another grade, students receive partners with whom they share time during the school year and for whom they are to pray
• Catholic Schools Week Celebrations
• Essay/Picture Contests on religious themes

Vocation Awareness:

• Redemptorist Fathers involved in everyday school life and activities
• Vocation Day visits from priests and sisters from various religious orders
• Vocation Awareness lessons:
  • Reading and learning
• Vocation Cross – travels from grade to grade – the students pray for an increase in vocations and to be open to their own vocations

Community Service and Outreach:

• Missionary Childhood Association collections
• Connections of students with newly baptized children in each of our three parishes
• Pro-Life Projects
• Baby items collected for A Woman’s Concern
• Food Bank donations
• Breakfast with St. Nick
• Monthly Service Projects
• Letters to Seminarians
• Valentines for Shut-ins
• Celebrate Grandparents/Grandfriends Day
• Letters to Veterans
• Eyeglass collection
• Concerts, plays & programs
• Rosary Club to make cord rosaries for newly baptized