Faith Experiences
Prayer:
- Schoolwide Friday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation – each class plans and participates
- Morning prayer schoolwide
- School Community prayers every Monday
- Angelus or Regina Caeli at 12:30 pm schoolwide
- 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
- School Choir for Grades 4-8; Cherub Choir for Grades K-3
Learning about Catholic History & Traditions:
- Daily Religion Classes
- Weekly religion classes taught by OMPH Priests to 8th Grade
- Sacramental preparations:
- Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Recognition of the lives of saints including 4th Grade All Saints Day Presentation
- Recognition of special events/celebrations in the Church
- Advent Practices and Services, including 3rd Grade Christmas Pageant
- Christmas Practices and Services, including 8th Grade Fourth Wiseman
- Lenten Practices and Services, including 2nd Grade Passion Play
- 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., “Lead with Love Like Jesus”
- 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
- Monthly focus on virtues with “Leader of Virtue” recognition of outstanding students in each class for each virtue focus.
- Catholic Schools Week Celebrations (Discovering Catholic Schools in November and Celebrating Catholic Schools in January)
- Essay/Picture Contests on religious themes, including Missionary Childhood Association contest
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
Community Service and Outreach:
- Monthly family project, including sending home Rosaries for families to recite together
- Missionary Childhood Association collections, including Pennies for the Missions in October, MCA box collection for Lent
- Monthly cheer cards created by students for retired priests at St. Clement’s Mission House and Bernadine Sisters Nursing Home
- Connections of students with newly baptized children in each of our three parishes
- Rosary Club makes cord rosaries for newly baptized, Grade 2 makes baptism cards
- Pro-Life Projects and Awareness
- Veterans Day Prayer Service
- Food Bank donations
- Breakfast with St. Nick
- School Carol Sing and Advent Angels for priests at St. Clement’s Mission House
- Baby items collected for A Woman’s Concern
- Valentines for Benefactors
- Celebrate Grandparents/Grandfriends Day
- Concerts, plays & programs
