FAITH
FAMILIES
Individual faith families will be made up of a
student from each of the nine grade levels in our school who will meet together
various times throughout the year to participate in activities that pertain to
the season of the year, to serving the community and attending liturgies
together. Each teacher in the school will be in charge of two “faith families,”
and the older students in the “family” will take leadership roles for their
“faith families,” making sure that all family members are included and affirmed
in the faith family’s activities.
MISSIONARY CHILDHOOD
ASSOCIATION (MCA)
The Missionary
Childhood Association is a worldwide Catholic association of youth who, through
their donations, help children in third world countries who are denied the
essentials of healthy and secure lives. Students at St. Catherine Labouré
School are dedicated to helping the poor through their participation in
fundraising and donations to the Missionary Childhood Association and to
responding to Jesus’ words. “What you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me.” (Mt. 25:40)
Special MCA campaigns often occur during Thanksgiving, Advent and Lent.
PRAYER OBSERVANCE
Since ours is a Catholic school, the greatest emphasis is to be placed on providing a Religious Education for all students. In order that this is done, we ask God to bless our work and we, as a school community, recognize the importance of both formal and informal prayer. The following prayers are common to our faith community:
Sign of the Cross - In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Morning Salute to the Cross - I pledge allegiance to the Cross of Christ and to the Church for which it stands, one holy, catholic, and apostolic with grace and salvation for all.
Hail Mary - Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Our Father - Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
The Apostles' Creed - I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell, on the third day he arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of Sins, the Resurrection of the Body, and life everlasting. Amen.
The Angelus - The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary / And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.(Hail Mary…) Behold the hand maid of the Lord. / Be it done unto me according to your word. (Hail Mary…) And the Word was made flesh. / And dwelt among us. (Hail Mary…) Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. / That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech you O Lord, Your grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Glory Be - Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Act of Contrition - My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered an died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.
Grace Before Meals - Bless us, O Lord, and these Your gifts, which we are about to receive from Your bounty, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
PRESENCE AT WEEKLY MASS (FAMILIES)
As a Catholic
school, we recognize that there is no greater opportunity for parent-directed
religious education than presence at Saturday evening/Sunday Mass. As a parish
school, it is understood that weekly Mass attendance provides tremendous opportunity
for community-building in a Christ-centered environment. It is therefore essential to our mission
as Catholic educators, in partnership with parents for the Catholic education
of children, that families attend Mass on a regular basis. As the primary
educators of their children, parents are encouraged to consistently follow
through on this most serious obligation.
PRESENCE AT WEEKLY MASS (SCHOOL)
Since religious education is an
integral part of a child’s growth, school children will attend Mass on First
Fridays. Additionally, on those other weeks when no First Friday is being
observed, classes in grades three through eight (two through eight after January) may attend Mass one day a week. Students will
actively participate in these liturgies as well as feast day liturgies that
occur during the school year and in special prayer services.
PRESENCE AT FAMILY LITURGY
SUNDAY
The second
Sunday of each month is Family Liturgy Sunday. Families attend the 9:30 liturgy. Students who wear their uniforms to this liturgy are
awarded non-uniform dress the next school day, normally Monday. The school
choir sings at these monthly liturgies, and school families have a special
opportunity to worship and socialize
together.
