Faith Formation
|
|
Sacramental Preparation |
|
Traditionally, parents have looked to Catholic Schools to assist them in the Christian education of their children. Therefore, formal instruction in both Religion and Family Life are essential to our students’ educational experiences at St. Leonard School, and their religious formation occurs in all aspects of school life, from the beginning of their day here until the end. Weekly Mass Weekly Mass takes place every Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. in the Church. Each week, a different grade leads the rest of the school in the Liturgy, acting as lectors, gift bearers, commentators, and ushers. Even our youngest students will work up to participation, assisted by their older schoolmates. Families and friends are always welcome to join us. Monthly Family Masses Although we hope to see all of our students and their families at weekend Masses every week, we ask our entire student body to plan to attend the 10:30 a.m. Mass together on the first Sunday of every month so that we may participate fully with the St. Leonard parishioners who continue to generously support us year after year. Each monthly Family Mass is “staffed” by a different grade. The students act as readers, gift bearers, altar servers, and ushers. Catholic Schools Week Every January, St. Leonard School participates in the Annual Catholic Schools Week, which celebrates the importance of Catholic education in the United States. Week long fun and service-oriented activities help the St. Leonard community focus on the value of Catholic education and it's contributions to our church, our communities, and our nation as a whole. We kick off the week with an All School Family Mass on Sunday, host an Open House, a book fair, participate in a service project, invite in guest speakers, enjoy some treats, and have fun with daily themes. Catholic Schools Week is a wonderful reminder to the St. Leonard School community of the powerful and positive impact our families have every day. |
While school teachers educate and prepare students for receiving the sacraments, school and parish staff work cooperatively to ensure that the sacraments are appropriately celebrated with students’ families and the entire parish community. Typically, students in Grade 2 prepare for the sacraments of reconciliation and Eucharist. Students in Grade 8 participate in a one year preparatory program for confirmation with the celebration held in the spring. Catechist certification for all teachers ensures that Catholic school faculty and staff are committed to the values of Catholicism and have a basic understanding of Catholic beliefs and traditions for the purpose of modeling these to students. Students in grades PK-3 through 8 attend mass weekly. These liturgies are planned by students, teachers, and our music director. Students in each grade level are paired with “Prayer Buddies” to attend mass with. The older students serve as role models for their younger partners during mass. Teachers also ensure there are multiple other opportunities for Prayer Buddies to work together throughout the year on projects, buddy reading, and performances. Parents and guests are always welcome and encouraged to join in our children’s liturgies on Wednesday mornings at 8:00 a.m. |