 How are Catholic Schools a faith-filled learning community? |
Faith is the organizing principle for space, time and activities in the community. For example, the school year follows not only the secular calendar but includes the rhythm of the church or liturgical year. In partnership with parents and the Parish Community, Catholic schools attend to and nurture the faith of the children and young people entrusted to us within the total lived experience of the school. We refer to this as permeation of the faith. |
| What is faith? |
Faith, a life-long gift received in baptism, is in its core, relational. It is not intended to be a purely academic subject taught in religion class. It has two dimensions – the vertical – our relationship with God explored and developed in prayer and the horizontal - our relationship with one another. |
| What are some examples of permeation of faith? |
There are three major ways that faith can be permeated: through the physical environment, through relationships (the way we act towards one another should be modeled after the life of Jesus who taught love of God and neighbor) and the perspective we bring to the teaching of the various subject areas (being mindful of the teachings of the church regarding the dignity of the human person and the common good.) |
Symbols and religious artwork in classrooms and hallways remind us of the stories, peoples and truths of our faith tradition and the invisible realities that surround us. Some schools also have a chapel. |
| Are all students expected to participate in religious education classes? |
As faith is the organizing principle for our Catholic school community all students are expected to respectfully participate in religion classes to learn about Jesus and to understand the Catholic Church’s tradition and teaching. |
| How often does prayer happen? |
Key times for prayer are morning, noon and evening or close of day. Older students who have different teachers throughout the day may begin their different class periods with a prayer appropriate to the subject area. We draw on many forms of prayer available to us in our 2000 year old tradition. At different times of the liturgical year there will be various liturgies and celebrations for the whole school. |
| What are some of the traditional prayers of the Catholic Church? |
The traditional prayers of the church include the Sign of the Cross, the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father), the Hail Mary, and the Rosary. All Christian traditions use the Lord’s Prayer. The other prayers are rooted in Scripture and tradition and in varying ways affirm the fundamental truths of the Church and help us meditate on the life of Christ. |
| What is the sign of the Cross? |
The sign of the cross is a ritual, going back to the early centuries of Christianity and understood to be a source of divine power and protection. This most common Catholic gesture is used in our sacraments and to begin and end prayer. It symbolically reaffirms two essential Christian doctrines: The Holy Trinity and humankind’s salvation through the cross of Christ. |
| What is the rosary? |
The rosary is a form of prayer within the Catholic tradition which is a way for us to meditate on moments in Christ’s life through the eyes of his mother Mary. The events of Christ’s life are divided into four sets of mysteries- Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious. The meditation on the mysteries is accompanied by a series of prayers – The Apostle’s Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, The Hail Mary and The Glory Be. The opening lines of the Hail Mary prayer are Scriptural and taken from the Angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. http://familyrosary.org/en/TheRosary/ExplanationandHistory.aspx |
| What is the liturgical year? |
The Church year has different seasons which help us to celebrate and meditate on the central mysteries of our faith – the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. The seasons consist of Advent (4 weeks before Christmas) and the start of the Church year; Christmas; Lent ( a forty day preparation for Easter); Easter (beginning with Easter Sunday and ending 50 days later at Pentecost) and Ordinary time which are weeks between Christmas and Lent and the weeks between the Easter season and the start of Advent. |
| What is liturgy? |
Liturgy is the public prayer of the church. The highest form of this public prayer is the Mass. When we participate in the Mass we are not only remembering but participating in the central mystery of our faith, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. |
| What happens at Mass? |
The Mass has two parts – The Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In the first part we listen to God’s word proclaimed from Scripture. Most religious traditions include listening to the Holy Scriptures in their worship or religious rituals. It is the Liturgy of the Eucharist which is unique for Catholic Christians. |
| What happens during the Liturgy of the Eucharist? |
In obedience to Christ’s command we remember and make present in a special way Jesus’ saving event of the cross and resurrection. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is truly made present under the appearance of bread and wine. Because of this reality, receiving Communion in the Catholic Church is a profound moment. The “Amen” at Communion is a faith statement that says: “I believe that Christ is really present in this Eucharist.
How can I participate if I am not Catholic and do not believe in the Real Presence?
Those who are members of other Churches, not in full communion with the Catholic Church, are invited to partake in this sacred moment by means of a blessing rather than receiving the host. To indicate desire for a Blessing instead of Communion one crosses one’s hands over the chest as they come forward.
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| What is the core of Catholic Christian beliefs? |
The core of our Christian beliefs is summarized in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. God is three persons in one - Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the Holy Trinity. Christ, the Son of God, Our Lord, is the full, final revelation of God. Humanity and creation have suffered a sinful fall. Both are saved through Jesus Christ, the Son of God’s life, suffering, death and resurrection. He is the sole mediator of salvation. |
| What do Catholics believe about the Bible? |
We see the Bible primarily as the Word of God and secondarily as a book of personal inspiration. To interpret it, we turn to the Church. We believe the Spirit has guided the Church’s interpretation over the centuries. We trust that Tradition. We believe that the books of the Bible teach us many truths about how God has been wanting to save us from the beginning of time. We recognize and acknowledge that the many books of the Bible have various literary forms- some historical, some mythological, some poetic, some chronological, etc. Scripture is taught in all the religious education programs and used in the prayer life of the school. |
| For Catholic Parents - Will my child receive preparation for the sacraments in school? |
The parent is the primary educator in the faith for their children. The parish and the school support families in their role. At school students learn about the sacraments in their religious studies classes. This knowledge-based instruction is referred to as remote preparation. When it is time to receive sacraments there is what we call immediate preparation at the parish. Information about this is distributed through both the parish’s Sunday bulletin and the school. |
| For non-Catholic parents – What about sacraments for my child? |
Students who are not Catholic or belong to another Denomination or Religion still learn about the sacraments in their religious education classes. However, respecting their own Faith Tradition they are to receive their sacraments or Religious rites and rituals in their own Faith Community. If someone is interested in becoming Catholic they would be directed to the appropriate contacts in the local parish. |