Faith Formation at Saint Anne
Saint Anne Catholic School offers a comprehensive religious education program, which integrates the doctrines of our faith, as well as Catholic traditions and values into every subject area. As a school community, we recognize the importance of both formal and informal prayer. All students are expected to know the formal prayers presented by their classroom teachers. We meet as a school daily to pray together at assembly and students engage in prayer at various times throughout the school day.
The course of study for primary grades is designed to provide a basic introduction to God, the Gospel Good News, our Church, our sacramental life, and Christian practice. In second and third grade, emphasis is placed upon the preparation of the students for the reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist which they receive in the spring of third grade. The intermediate grades focus on four major concepts: Church and sacraments, Morality, Prayer, and Sacred Scripture. The middle school grades include these topics as well as an in-depth study of the life of Christ, and the history of the Church. Peace and justice issues are integrated into every subject area and grade level. Christian Service is taught and practiced at all grade levels. Junior High students are required to complete and document Christian service hours as part of their religion requirement. Numerous opportunities exist within the school, parish, and larger community, and teachers will apprise students of activities on a regular basis.
From the Archdiocese
In a Catholic school all students have the privilege and the obligation to participate in religious instruction. Religion teachers have the privilege and responsibility to provide all students with an encounter with Christ and instruction in Catholic doctrine and practice. This whole process calls for witness to the way of Christ as found in the Scripture and Catholic Church teaching. As teachers promote knowledge of Scripture and sacred tradition, they seek to create an environment conducive to Christ on campus and in the classroom, and to impart what will form the students’ foundational understanding of doctrine, moral decision-making, discernment of vocation, forms of worship and service, and involvement in the Christian community of faith.
All students whether Catholic or non-Catholic are required to be enrolled in a religion course for a grade/credit each semester. As appropriate, schools may offer an introductory preparation class for students who have no experience with formal religious structures or vocabulary. Non-Catholic students participate in liturgies and other sacramental programs in a manner that respects their religious traditions and recognizes that they are not Roman Catholic. Should students from a non-Catholic background or who have no formal religious background express an interest in joining the Catholic faith, their parents/guardians must participate directly in the discussion and, as a general matter, any decision would be postponed until adulthood and after high school graduation.
Liturgical Education and CelebrationsThe Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life" (Lumen Gentium, 11).
"The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324).
Liturgy celebrated properly in the school setting prepares students to participate in the liturgical life of their parish. The School Mass Guidelines and Planning Sheet for school liturgies aids campus ministers and students involved in liturgy preparation.
The administration, faculty, and students are to share in a school celebration of the Eucharist at least monthly. Liturgical preparation should involve cooperative planning by the celebrant and representatives of the school community. Faculty and students are to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation periodically and in particular during Advent and Lent. Although preparation for the sacrament of confirmation is specifically a parish program, the school is to make every effort to encourage and support students and their parents/guardians to participate in their parish confirmation program (see "Confirmation Program" under Faith Formation and Youth Ministry for High School-Age Students).
