At St. Frances Xavier Cabrini School strives toward authentic, Catholic teaching as found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. As the Congregation for Catholic Education has stated, “Love for and fidelity to the Church is the organizing principle and the source of strength of a Catholic school” (The Religious Dimension of Education in a Catholic School 44). We encourage all parents to read and familiarize themselves with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Friday Masses
Parents are encouraged to join the students and faculty for the school liturgy on Fridays and on special occasions. The student is focused on receiving the Holy Eucharist during the school liturgy. The students of each grade level are responsible for choosing songs, for choosing the biblical passages to be read, and for reading the scripture passages and prayers of the faithful.
Saturday Masses
Additionally, in order to build ties between the parish and the school, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini School teachers and their students are responsible for the readings and prayers of the faithful during a parish mass every third Saturday of the month at 5:30 p.m. during the school year. All teachers and students are strongly encouraged to attend in support of the coordinator teacher and sponsoring class.
Reconciliation
Students in grades 3-8 will be given the opportunity to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent and Lent. These two liturgical seasons mark important time of preparation to receive Jesus in our hearts. Teachers provide instruction and guidance so as to help students to make good confessions.
Visits To The Blessed Sacrament
Each teacher will take his or her class to visit the Blessed Sacrament once a month on a Wednesday for a fifteen-minute block of time between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00p.m. Visiting the Blessed Sacrament is a form of Eucharistic adoration, i.e. it is Catholic devotional practice that reinforces our belief that Christ is truly present in the consecrated bread of the Eucharist.
Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Crowning of our Blessed Virgin Mary each May is a solemn ceremony. The students participate in praying the Holy Rosary or just a mystery. Traditionally, some students offer fresh flowers to our Mother while the rest of the assembly sings hymns to honor the Virgin Mary. The graduating 8th grade class has the privilege of leading this special devotion.
Stations of the Cross
During the Lenten season, students will participate in praying the Way of the Cross every Friday of lent. Grade 4-8 teachers are responsible for leading the stations one time. Within these grades, 14 students should be selected to read the 14 stations. The students are encouraged to read well, loud and clear. Each class in charge also needs to choose three altar servers: two of them will carry a lamp and the third will carry the Cross. The Stations of the Cross take place in Church at 2:00 p.m.
Christian Service
Students from grades 3-8 are required to render Christian Service. Grades 3 and 4 serve a total of 10 hours – 4 hours for school, three for Church and three for the community. The community hours may be fulfilled at the site which is convenient for them and their parents. Grades 5 and 6 will serve a total of 15 hours divided equally among the Church, school, and community. Grades 7 and 8 will serve a total of 30 hours divided equally among Church, school and community.
Students must complete half of their hours by the end of the FIrst Semester on the deadline given by the school. Each student will keep a record of the number of hours and the kind of service rendered. The person who received the service must sign for the student to receive credit. Teachers shall check each quarter to make sure students are filling out the form correctly and making progress towards completing their hours.
Parents may not pay for hours in lieu of student service; neither can they complete hours for their children. No credit will be given for services rendered as a result of being subject for serious disciplinary action. Students who serve the entire year as choir members or altar servers do not have to complete any additional service hours. Upon completion of service hours, each student must submit the forms together with a REFLECTION PAPER to the homeroom teacher by the last Friday of May.
Christian Service Hours will be credited in the student’s Religion grade in the 2nd and the 4th quarters. Christian Service Recognition will be presented at the End of the School Award Ceremony.
