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