Spiritual Life

 

As a Catholic school, providing students with a Christ-centered foundation is central to our mission.  St. Nicholas School offers several ways in which students and their families can strengthen their spiritual lives.

 

Family Masses

Students plan and participate in Eucharist Celebrations monthly and on Holy Days.  Opportunities include making banners, singing, readings and serving at the altar, and students in 5th through 8th grades are eligible to be altar servers for school and parish masses.  School liturgies and prayer services are open to all students and their families.

 

Prayer

At St. Nicholas, each day begins with the entire school gathering for prayer in the central quad. In the classroom, students pray together through traditional and spontaneous methods, meditation and scriptural study.

 

Chapel

The chapel, located on the school campus provides a more intimate setting than a full size church and is used for class retreats, Adoration of the Eucharist, and by the Youth Ministry program.

 

Sacraments

 

Eucharist

This Sacrament is part of the school’s second grade religion curriculum.  We respect that parents are their children’s primary spiritual role models and our program is designed to support their efforts through special parent meetings.

 

Reconciliation

2nd graders are invited to receive the Sacrament of Penance.  They prepare for this Sacrament with their parents and teacher and receive Reconciliation prior to First Holy Communion.  Students in 3rd through 8th grade participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent and Lent.

 

Confirmation

St. Nicholas School will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation based on student readiness rather than age.  The Bishop will celebrate Confirmation at St. Nicholas and St. William Parishes, or delegate the pastors to confer this Sacrament, on an annual basis during the Easter Season when children ages seven through high school, with their families, demonstrate their readiness.