FAITH & SERVICE
JUNIOR HIGH “FAITH IN ACTION” SERVICE PROGRAM
Beginning in the 2019/20 School year, all junior high students will be required to complete hours of Community Service. The service hours are mandatory and counted as part of their religion grade. All service hours need to be completed by the end of the school year. The hours are to be divided up between community and school. Paid services or household chores do not count for service. The following hours are required for Grades 6-8:
Sixth Grade: 5 hours
Seventh Grade: 10 hours
Eighth Grade: 10 hours
ALTAR SERVERS PROGRAM – year long service
Training is provided annually by the Parish for interested students in 5th through 8th grades. Duties include the serving of daily and Sunday Mass, and other special occasions. Participation in the program requires parental support for getting to the assigned Masses.
CHOIR – year long service activity
Students in K through 8th grades are eligible to join choir. The choir sings at Mass on the first Sunday of the month, at weekly school Mass, Christmas and Spring Programs, and at various other functions. Practice is usually held after Wednesday school dismissal.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT - December
The school children enact the story of the birth of Christ with songs, music and costumes in church, and a reception to follow the event. Attendance is required for all families.
CLASS MASSES & RETREATS – throughout the year
Each grade level class has its own special Mass and/or faith activity jointly planned with our clergy, administration, spiritual room parents and teachers. Depending on developmental age and attention span, students participate in a special Mass, retreat or visit from the Pastor. The goal of these special faith events to have students personally engage with the Mass by dramatizing the Gospel message, serving in the Mass, and experiencing the message of God in a small and more intimate environment. Parents are encouraged to attend.
FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM – throughout the year
FIRST RECONCILIATIONS & EUCHARIST - spring - 2nd grade and other Faith Formation students
Required Religious Education meeting for parents of students receiving the sacrament this year.
LIVING ROSARY - fall
In honor of Mary, students form a living Rosary, as the 6th graders act out the mysteries while the student body says the Rosary. Parents and parishioners are welcome.
LIVING STATIONS OF THE CROSS – Lent – March/April
Stations of the Cross are performed outside by the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders during Lent. All families are invited.
SOUP AND STATIONS – Lent
Planned by the spiritual room parents, families are invited to meet on Fridays during Lent to recite the Stations together and meet afterwards for a simple soup dinner.
MAY CROWNING - May
The 8th grade’s annual homage to Our Lady is accompanied by the second graders who just received First Eucharist. The choir sings and everyone brings flowers for this special morning presentation honoring the Blessed Mother, Mary.
PRAYER CHAIN – any time throughout the year
Open to all interested parents and parishioners. The members pray for requested intentions.
ST. VINCENT DePAUL MERCY BAGS - Fall
Assumption students pack ziplock bags filled with toiletries and food for the local homeless population each year. The Spiritual Room parents in collaboration with the staff and students organize activities to collect, pack, wrap and assemble these bags for distribution by the St. Vincent dePaul society associated with our parish.
SACRED HEART PARISH PANTRY FOOD COLLECTION – November & December
The student body collects food for the Sacred Heart Parish Food Bank in Altadena.
SUNDAY COFFEE & DONUTS & UNION STATION LUNCH MAKING – Every 3rd Sunday of the Month
Coffee and donuts provided after the Sunday morning Masses during the year.
STUDENT WEEKLY MASSES – weekly throughout the year
We are blessed to have Fr. Mike preside over school-wide student Masses every Wednesday morning at 8:15 a.m. Students practice and participate as readers, altar servers and choir singers. Fr.’s message is specifically designed to engage students at their developmental level. Younger students sit with their buddies but TK students do not attend these Masses until later in the year.
