The following comes from an August 27 Angelus article by Julie Schnieders:
It’s back-to-school for Catholic school students throughout the archdiocese. But with busy schedules and ever-increasing demands on administrators and teachers, how do educators make prayer a priority in Catholic schools?
The Tidings spoke to Kevin Baxter, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and four different principals in archdiocesan schools to find out how they make prayer a priority not only in September, but all school year long.
At La Purisima Concepción Catholic School in Lompoc, the school year began with a morning prayer assembly outside on the school yard led by eighth graders. Parents gathered together with the faculty and staff to pray with the students.
Principal Orlando Leon has brought back an old tradition at La Purisima Concepción School of holding morning prayers outside when churchgoers attend morning Mass.
“People notice us gathered together. Our faith is visible to the community,” Principal Leon said.
Faith and Catholic identity is evident in the school community of St. Brendan’s Catholic school in Los Angeles, too. Principal Sister Maureen O’Connor, CSJ, prays over the student’s backpacks, or as she calls them, their “constant companions,” on the first day of school.
The students hold up their backpacks while being prayed over outside at the school’s first assembly. Once the school year is off and running, the students pray daily in the classroom.
St. Brendan’s even has a commissioner of religious affairs who writes their own weekly prayer to pray with the entire student body. During the Marian month of October, all grades pray the rosary in their classrooms.
“We are very conscious of prayer,” Sister Maureen said.
At St. Philip the Apostle School in Pasadena, Principal Jennifer Ramirez strives to make prayer spontaneous.
“What Catholic school student doesn’t remember class stopping so that they can pray as a siren was heard from the classroom? That is what we want for our students; for prayer to be their first instinct,” Ramirez said.
Most encouraging to read this good news! :) :) :)
Prayer is # 1.
All high school students studying the Bible is # 2
Jr’s & Sr’s studying the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition: is # 3.
” My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. ” – Hosea 4:6.
High School is the last time most of the youth will have for a formal Catholic Education in the Faith.
It must be accurate and complete.
For statements from our Popes regarding the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition” of 1997 (dark green cover in the USA) go to:
” What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE ”
https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
Leigh…Why do people writing about the Catechism always seem to include the color of the cover?
Good question C & H. – In 1992 and 1994 the Catechism was published with some errors in the English language version; it had been translated from French into English. The cover was beige.
So in 1997 the Pope brought the CCC into conformity with the Latin text. Officially: “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, second edition, revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II.” This cover in the USA is dark green.
(Unfortunately Amazon and others sell both versions as the official CCC.)
https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/updates.htm
It’s about time. When did being pious or religious cease being important at Catholic Schools. (since Vatican II) Ave Maria Pyuuissima !
Prayer -A soul arms itself by prayer for all kinds of combat. In whatever state the soul may be, it ought to pray. A soul which is pure and beautiful must pray, or else it will lose its beauty; a soul which is striving after this purity must pray, or else it will never attain it; a soul which is newly converted must pray, or else it will fall again; a sinful soul, plunged in
sins, must pray so that it might rise again. There is no soul which is not bound to pray, for every single grace comes to the soul through prayer.
–St. Faustina
Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven.
–Saint Ephraem of Syria
“Purity is the fruit of prayer.”
– Blessed Mother Teresa
What prayer could be more true before God the Father than that which the Son, who is Truth, uttered with His own lips?
–Saint John Chrysostom
There is still hope!
Enter Campus Reform’s Biased Course Contest!
https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=6779
Are leftist courses taking over your college curriculum? Campus Reform wants to hear from you!
Campus Reform is hosting a contest to find the most biased, liberal college courses offered during the fall 2015 semester. We are looking for students to carefully examine their course catalogs for liberal-leaning classes. If none are offered, feel free to check the catalogs of other schools.
Here are a few examples of liberal courses previously exposed by Campus Reform:
A Woman for President (course designed around Hillary Clinton and includes excursion to Clinton Global Initiative in New York City)
Studies in American Literature/Culture: U.S…
At St Francis Xavier School in Phoenix in the 1990’s,, the late Kristin Spucces, a lovely and deeply Catholic principal, would do the same as La Purisima’s principal, and start the day with prayer— every day. It made a lasting impression on us and our children. Inspiring.
Mrs. Kristin Spucces was a out-standing Principal at Saint Franics Xavier Elem School and she did a lot for Saint Franics Xavier and Saint Jerome Community.
It a good way to prayer for people’s who pass away and prayer dose help us joined are day.
Please understand why I attend Mass at Saint Franics Xavier is to be near my best friend who was like a real Mom to me and when do attend Mass on Sunday Morning I do prayer for Kristin Spucces and her own family.
At our parochial school, a big priority for the teachers is to make sure the children learn not only ‘spontaneous’ forms of prayer, but the traditional Catholic prayers, especially the parts of the Mass that are a dialog between the Celebrant and the assembly.
My children are becoming so accustomed to this, they are teaching my husband and ME how to pray better on Sundays, because their Catholic school teachers are somehow incorporating the Mass prayers during the week. So, our kids know the Creed better, the Lord’s Prayer, and even the responses to the Mass!!
Bernadette, you and your children may like a new book out called “A Short Guide to Praying as a Family” by the Dominican Sisters of st. Cecelia. I got my copy from Amazon. I am sure that there are other places to get it though.