Serving Pre-K3 - 8th Grade

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Faith and Catholic Identity

- Resources
Today's Readings
- Solemnity of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  
  Reading 1 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
  Responsorial Psalm Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
  Reading 2 Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22
  GospeL Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a
  or Lk 2:41-51a

At Saint Mary Catholic School, we walk with Jesus as we strive to live out the tenets of our faith. It is our goal to integrate our Catholic Identity into all we do, including:
- Weekly Mass Attendance: Students in 1st through 8^th grade attend Mass weekly and on Holy Days. Students in grades 2 through 8 participate as:
  - greeters
  - lectors
  - altar servers
  - gift bearers
  - choir members
- Prayer: Schoolwide prayer is led each morning by an 8^th grader. The Marian Antiphons are prayed throughout the seasons of the liturgical year. Classes also pray throughout the day, including before lunch and at day’s end.
Alma Redemptoris Mater (Kindly Mother of the Redeemer)

     First Sunday of Advent until Candlemas (Feb 2)
O loving Mother of our Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea,
Hasten to aid thy fallen people who strive to rise once more.
Thou who brought forth thy holy Creator, all creation wond’ring,
Yet remainest ever Virgin, taking from Gabriel’s lips
that joyful “Hail!”: be merciful to us sinners.

Ave Regina Coelorum (Hail, Queen of Heaven)
    Day after Candlemas (Feb3) until Easter Vigil
Welcome, O Queen of Heaven.
Welcome, O Lady of Angels
Hail! thou root, hail! thou gate
From whom unto the world, a light has arisen:
Rejoice, O glorious Virgin,
Lovely beyond all others,
Farewell, most beautiful maiden,
And pray for us to Christ.

Regina Coeli (Queen of Heaven)
Easter Eve until Pentecost Sunday
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
Has risen, as he said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen)
Day after Pentecost until end of liturgical year
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To thee to we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
- Virtues in Practice: Using this program, which is designed to help students grow closer to Jesus by imitating His life and virtues, the entire school studies the same virtue each month. This provides a whole-school (and whole-family) focus. Twenty-seven virtues are explored over a three-year cycle, with 81 saints held up as models of the virtues.
- Awards:
  - Each month one student from every class is chosen as the Servant of the Lord. These students are selected by their teachers for modeling the Virtue of the Month.
  - At the end of each school year, two students from each class are chosen to receive the Religion Award for demonstrating the qualities of one who walks with Jesus every day.
- Special Liturgies and Events: Throughout the year, students plan, prepare and/or participate in
  - Adoration and Holy Hours
  - the Living Rosary
  - Advent prayer services
  - Reconciliation services
  - a Christmas program anticipating the birth of Jesus
  - Stations of the Cross
  - the Chrism Mass
  - retreats
  - May Crowning
  - 8th-grade graduation Mass
- Service Projects: Several times a year, students are provided with opportunities to participate in service through activities including - but not limited to-
  - Catholic Charities canned food drives
  - CRS Rice Bowl
  - Catholic Schools Week projects
  - Matthew’s Nursery (Catholic Charities)
  - Children’s Advocacy Center donations
  - visits to nursing homes
  - Send-a-Smile
Documents
- Sacramental Preparation Information from Saint Mary Catholic Church
ChurchPOP
- Real Face of Jesus or “Anti-Christian Psyop”? Artist’s “Reconstruction” of Jesus’ Face Resurfaces in Viral Tweet
  
  Did this medical artist discover the real face of Jesus Christ? Retired medical artist Dr. Richard Neave claimed he reconstructed the face The post Real Face of Jesus or “Anti-Christian Psyop”...
- From Atheist & Occultist to Defender of Catholicism: How Our Lady Changed His Life!
  
  Former atheist and occultist William Toro is a Catholic apologist who spends most of his life defending the faith with theological and The post From Atheist & Occultist to Defender of Catholicism...
- The Power of St. Joseph: Why Saints Called on His Heavenly Intercession, in 6 Inspiring Quotes
  
  Why should we call on the intercession of Saint Joseph? Here are six powerful quotes from the saints explaining why! Saint Joseph The post The Power of St. Joseph: Why Saints Called on His Heavenly...
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