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Faith Formation

Catechetics is the center of the Catholic school. A conscious effort is made to create a Christ-centered atmosphere by stressing Christian values and morality in the classroom as well as throughout the school. A conscious effort is made to integrate catechetics into every aspect of the school curriculum.

 

Our belief in Jesus has drawn us to this school community. Our beliefs are expressed in and strengthened by daily communal prayer. Students develop skills and a love for the Church's daily worship. Prayer includes a prayer each morning, prayers before and after lunch and at the end of the day.

 

Attention is also given to the seasons of the year, to the anniversaries of historical figures and peacemakers of our time, and to the civil holidays that have significance for our children.

 

Faith experiences are an integral part of catechetics. Opportunities for Eucharistic Liturgies, Reconciliation, Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, other Catholic prayers, classroom prayer and service to others are to be included. Community is at the heart of Catholic education, not simply as a concept to be learned, but as a reality to be lived.

 

The principal, in conjunction with the Pastor and the Catechetical Administrator, work with the teachers in the religious development and sacramental preparation of the students. Parent Preparation Programs for Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation are held during the year. These are parish programs and involve all eligible children and parents of the parish.

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LITURGY

Liturgy will be attended by students in all grades weekly. THIS DAY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

  • Kindergarten attends weekly all-school Liturgies and all-school Liturgies for holy days of obligation, beginning in October.

  • Non-Catholic students will attend Liturgies with their class, but they may not receive Holy Communion.

  • Parents and family members are welcome to attend all school Liturgies; however, because the Mass is a sacred ceremony, photographing and videotaping are not allowed.

  • All students are expected to actively participate during liturgies through prayer, song, and verbal responses.

  • Respect for the presence of God requires that students remain quiet before, during, and after Mass.

  • Students have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent and Lent.

  • Students in grade 2 are prepared for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion.

  • Students in grade 8 are prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

 
SACRAMENTS

Reception of the Sacraments of Initiation are significant times in the lives of our students, their families,
our school, and the parish where your family is registered. To help alleviate any confusion on reception
of the sacraments, the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s Sacraments of Initiation Handbook explains in detail
below what is to take place:

  • The sacraments of initiation are aspects of being ‘parishioners’ in a parish community, not students in a Catholic school. As a result, parishes have primary responsibility for the sacramental initiation of their members. At the same time, Catholic schools are valuable extensions of the church’s care for the young.

  • Candidates for Christian initiation have a right to the welcome, pastoral care, and community life of their parish, no matter where they are enrolled for catechetical formation. This is true for children who are already Catholic as well as for those who may come to seek entrance into the Catholic Church.

  • The celebration of the sacraments of initiation will ordinarily take place in the parish community of the candidate, regardless of where the catechetical preparation occurs.

  • A pastor may allow parishioners to celebrate the initiation sacraments with their companions in another parish so long as this is acceptable to the pastor of the other parish. In this case, the pastor of the candidate should personally make this request and work out an agreement with the other pastor well in advance. Parishioners should be informed of this arrangement. The pastor does not relinquish responsibility for the welcome and pastoral care of such candidates.

  • Other formation experiences, in addition to the catechetical program, are often desirable. This is especially true in order to gather together all the candidates from one parish, even though they are enrolled in separate catechetical programs. These extraordinary gatherings should not duplicate normal catechetical programs in the Catholic school or parish religious education program; and not be so numerous that they become a burden to those who are faithfully taking part in other catechetical programs.

  • The Catholic school is responsible to make parents aware that celebrating the initiation sacraments is a matter between the family and their parish (Sacraments of Initiation page 79-80)

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