St. Mary's Visitation Parish

Theme for 2004-05: "Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life". School prayer and classroom and school activities will be planned to help all of us to understand this theme more deeply and to live it more fully.

Liturgical Celebrations and Prayer Experiances We celebrate our life experiences as a Christian community through liturgy and prayer. Our children participate in:

Through these experiences, it is hoped:

Family prayer, full participation in Sunday Eucharist and the sacraments, and daily Gospel living and service are the essential foundational components upon which the school can build.

Reconciliation The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be scheduled within the school year during school hours once each semester during Advent and Lent. Proper preparation for the reception of the Sacrament will be carefully planned.

Religious Instructions The parish priests at St. Mary's Parish have frequent interaction with the children of the parish, especially those who are enrolled in the parish school. The priests celebrate Mass three times a week with the children, participate in various prayer services with the children, interact with the children in a number of different settings, and visit the children when invited to the classrooms. Although the teachers of the school are the regular teachers of religion for the children in the parish setting, the priests also teach in the school, but in a manner more directed toward special seasons of the Church year, the sacramental preparation cycle, and special events, rather than the textbook programs of each grade. The schedule for the priests in relationship to the school is flexible because of the responsibility of the priests for many other areas of parish life. The priests also work with the school faculty and the school administration in giving leadership to the school community, decision-making, and formation.

Faith in Action As a Catholic school faith community, we are concerned with the dignity and the needs of people everywhere. We are concerned with those people who suffer injustices in our society and throughout the world. Therefore, as a school, we involve our students, parents and the parish community in efforts to bring charity and justice to those in need. In doing so, we live out Jesus' mission in Luke 4:18-19:

Each class is dedicated to service throughout the school year. This service may include, but is not limited to, visiting the elderly, pen pal letters or feeding the homeless. Classes will also participate in parish-wide service, such as the Angel Tree Project. Classes learn about the need for social change and learn how to participate in it. The school also participates in school-wide service during Advent and Lent. Our student leaders, working with faculty and staff advisors, take on the leadership for the school-wide service. In order to participate in the service fully and to bring alive Jesus' mission, classes devote some time to age-appropriate education and reflection upon the service experience. Education may include guest speakers, or additional reading and study. Reflection is based upon the students' personal experiences, as well as scripture readings, Catholic social teaching, and prayer. It is hoped that through this education and reflection, the students develop a personal responsibility as members of the Catholic Church to serve others as Jesus would. Because many of the service experiences are field trips, parents and the parish community are encouraged to participate in the service experience with their children. In addition to direct service, students annually participate in the Columban Fathers Mission Education program. This age-appropriate curriculum helps students learn about the impoverished countries in the world and/or other areas of concern, such as poverty and hunger. The students gain more global awareness and learn to appreciate diversity. They learn how to bring justice to these areas in need.

Serving for Worship The boys and girls of Grade 6-8 are invited to be trained to become Mass Servers. The boys and girls of Grades 6-8 are responsible for serving the Masses on school days as well as when scheduled for weekend Masses and funerals.



	Home > SMV A-Z Liturgy and Prayer Theme for 2004-05: "Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life". School prayer and classroom and school activities will be planned to help all of us to understand this theme more deeply and to live it more fully. Liturgical Celebrations and Prayer Experiances We celebrate our life experiences as a Christian community through liturgy and prayer. Our children participate in: daily classroom prayer using a variety of media and methods, songs, formal prayer, spontaneous prayer, Scriptural reflection and journal writing; classroom or all-school para-liturgies called forth by special events or seasons of the year weekly Eucharistic liturgies which vary from grade level to total school involvement: 8:00 A.M.: Tuesday or special Feast Days - All School; Thursday Grades 1-5; Friday Grades 6-8. Parents are always welcome to join their children.) one day-long class retreat for Grades 6, 7 and 8 Through these experiences, it is hoped: that children personally come to know and relate to God as One who loves and cares for them. that children learn their Christian faith and doctrine through familiarity with the person of Jesus and His message in the Word. that children are aware of belonging to a community of faith, and that their concerns for the needs of the wider community grow. that children respond in SERVICE to the WORD OF GOD shared each week. Family prayer, full participation in Sunday Eucharist and the sacraments, and daily Gospel living and service are the essential foundational components upon which the school can build. Reconciliation The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be scheduled within the school year during school hours once each semester during Advent and Lent. Proper preparation for the reception of the Sacrament will be carefully planned. Religious Instructions The parish priests at St. Mary's Parish have frequent interaction with the children of the parish, especially those who are enrolled in the parish school. The priests celebrate Mass three times a week with the children, participate in various prayer services with the children, interact with the children in a number of different settings, and visit the children when invited to the classrooms. Although the teachers of the school are the regular teachers of religion for the children in the parish setting, the priests also teach in the school, but in a manner more directed toward special seasons of the Church year, the sacramental preparation cycle, and special events, rather than the textbook programs of each grade. The schedule for the priests in relationship to the school is flexible because of the responsibility of the priests for many other areas of parish life. The priests also work with the school faculty and the school administration in giving leadership to the school community, decision-making, and formation. Faith in Action As a Catholic school faith community, we are concerned with the dignity and the needs of people everywhere. We are concerned with those people who suffer injustices in our society and throughout the world. Therefore, as a school, we involve our students, parents and the parish community in efforts to bring charity and justice to those in need. In doing so, we live out Jesus' mission in Luke 4:18-19: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Each class is dedicated to service throughout the school year. This service may include, but is not limited to, visiting the elderly, pen pal letters or feeding the homeless. Classes will also participate in parish-wide service, such as the Angel Tree Project. Classes learn about the need for social change and learn how to participate in it. The school also participates in school-wide service during Advent and Lent. Our student leaders, working with faculty and staff advisors, take on the leadership for the school-wide service. In order to participate in the service fully and to bring alive Jesus' mission, classes devote some time to age-appropriate education and reflection upon the service experience. Education may include guest speakers, or additional reading and study. Reflection is based upon the students' personal experiences, as well as scripture readings, Catholic social teaching, and prayer. It is hoped that through this education and reflection, the students develop a personal responsibility as members of the Catholic Church to serve others as Jesus would. Because many of the service experiences are field trips, parents and the parish community are encouraged to participate in the service experience with their children. In addition to direct service, students annually participate in the Columban Fathers Mission Education program. This age-appropriate curriculum helps students learn about the impoverished countries in the world and/or other areas of concern, such as poverty and hunger. The students gain more global awareness and learn to appreciate diversity. They learn how to bring justice to these areas in need. Serving for Worship The boys and girls of Grade 6-8 are invited to be trained to become Mass Servers. The boys and girls of Grades 6-8 are responsible for serving the Masses on school days as well as when scheduled for weekend Masses and funerals.