Liturgical and Spiritual Life - Academy of the Holy Names

Fostering an interpersonal relationship with God and developing its expression within a faith community is at the heart of students’ knowing Christ Jesus’ love and becoming their authentic selves, made in God’s image and likeness. Mission and Ministry programs include personal and communal experiences for prayer and sacraments in formal worship and informal settings like retreats. Engaging in God’s message through Word, sacrament, contemplation and the arts, students reflect and take new steps on their faith journey. At every age, we are preparing and developing our students into ministry leaders, through active participation and training in various ministerial roles at Mass, retreats, and prayer.

At least seven times/year, all three divisions come together for significant liturgical celebrations, including Masses on Holy Days of Obligation. Each division also follows its own cycle of Masses and prayer services.

Family members and alumni of the Academy of the Holy Names community are welcome to join us at any school-wide or grade-level Masses or prayer services throughout the year. Students serve as music ministers, altar servers, lectors, gift bearers, and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. Parents can view the calendar on the Parent Portal for the weekly schedule of prayer services and Masses in each division.

“God is trinity; God is community. We are the image of God when we are in community." –Sister Mary Ellen Robinson, SNJM

“I invite you to come to the heart of Jesus with me, for it is there that I wish to dwell, and where if you wish it, we shall never be separated.”

- Blessed Marie Rose Durocher, SNJM

Lower School

Liturgical and Spiritual Life in the Lower School

Liturgy and Prayer

Students in grades 2 to 4 participate in Mass in the Chapel once every 8-day cycle in addition to schoolwide Masses. Each third and fourth grade class takes turns preparing for ministerial roles during the Liturgy while second graders practice becoming active participants as members of their class prepare for First Eucharist in their parishes. Students who sing for Mass attend choir practice during community time.

Pre-K to 1st grade students attend prayer services once every 8-day cycle throughout the year in the Chapel. Bible storytelling, singing, and interactive catechesis prepare students for personal prayer and communal worship.

Sacraments (Grade 2)

Mission and Ministry partners with the teachers to enrich and support 2nd graders in forming knowledge and faith in the sacraments of reconciliation and Eeucharist through periodic workshops. This is not a substitute or replacement for families’ obligations to their child’s parish sacramental preparation program. After students receive their First Eucharist in their parishes, the 2nd grade celebrates a class Mass with their families in mid-May where they get to step into ministerial roles.

Reconciliation

Retreats

Middle School

Liturgical and Spiritual Life In the Middle School

Liturgy and Prayer

Reconciliation

Retreats

Retreats are a significant contributor to interpersonal and spiritual development during adolescence and are an extension of the religion curriculum. Grades 5 to 7 each have a half-day retreat, and grade 8 goes off campus for a full day retreat on discipleship called “Courage to Ride with Jesus”. Other retreat themes focus on topics such as Covenant, Beatitudes, Trinitarian Relationship and Eucharist.

OCIA

Through students’ experiences of religious instruction and the faith culture, sometimes families who are not practicing the Catholic faith desire that their child receive the Sacraments of Initiation, to follow Christ more fully and to belong to a Catholic Community of believers. In partnership with Christ the King Catholic Church, students who are not Catholic can enter the OCIA program, a time of formation to learn about and embrace the faith, so as to become full members through the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.

Through the AHN-CTK partnered OCIA, middle school students will be able to complete approximately half their preparation on the AHN campus during community time and receive instruction from some of our own AHN faculty and staff (the other half of the sessions and rites are completed at Christ the King).

High School

Liturgical and Spiritual Life in the High School

Liturgy and Prayer

In addition to their attendance at school-wide Masses, High school students celebrate the Eucharist with their class in the Chapel every other 8-day cycle, providing additional opportunities to minister and receive the Word through music and homilies fitting for their age. Throughout the year, our young women give reflections during prayer services and mission spiritual preparations and can access quiet time in the Chapel for adoration. We find strength in our core value, Love for the Names of Jesus and Mary, whether meditating during a bilingual rosary or offering petitions for the social concerns of the Church.

Reconciliation

Retreats

Each grade participates in one full day retreat off campus during the school year appropriately themed for their phase of their high school journey. Upperclasswomen are invited to deepen their spiritual-seeking on Kairos and senior year culminates with an additional overnight retreat. Because retreats are a significant part of learning to lead spiritually rich lives, preparation and post-retreat reflection is integrated into the theology class.

9th Grade

Bloom Where You’re Planted:

This is the time to stretch out your roots to find the waters of faith, which is the nourishment for you to bloom where you’re planted here with your Academy sisters. Like a tree, you will grow into a strong young woman who is true to herself, beautiful in the eyes of her Maker, and known by your fruit—your signature set of gifts, academic strengths, personality qualities, and talents.

10th Grade

11th Grade

12th Grade

Day of Recollection (1st semester):

Spend the day with your Academy sisters defining who you are as an Academy woman and as a Senior class. Together you will determine the legacy you want to leave behind.

A Future Full of Hope… (2nd semester, overnight):

Get away from the chaos of senior year and breathe deep. This retreat is a chance to gather, to connect deeper, and to sense God’s presence all around you as you discern over the future God has planned for you! This is the time to think about leaving the Academy and ready yourself to enter the next phase of your life.

Kairos

Take part in one of the two optional Kairos retreats. Kairos means “God’s time” which is sacred time, the time to take your faith deeper in renewing your friendship with God and commitment to following Christ. It is the time to share in your faith with a small community of Academy sisters. You will need to attend one of these retreats in preparation for Peer Ministry leadership during your senior year.

Forming Women Leaders in the Spiritual Life

The following student groups develop our Academy high school students as leaders and ministers in our faith community:

Eucharistic Ministers and Altar Servers: For practicing Catholic students who have a special desire to give the Body of Christ to others and serve at Mass during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. (application and training required)
Music Ministry: For students who wish to share their musical gifts for liturgies, music ministry rehearses during flex time and before school. Members of Quarter Notes contribute to music ministry as part of their course expectations.
Peer Faith Community: A club for students who desire to grow in their faith while walking alongside others, these students also help with Mission and Ministry activities.
Peer Ministry Class: Peer Ministry, an alternative senior theology, is a place to develop leadership skills to guide others in faith. Peer Ministers lead middle and high school retreats, facilitating small groups for all grade levels. They foster the faith community in the school leading by example. Interested students apply and interview in the spring of junior year. Peer ministers attend a two-day retreat in early August, deepening their relationship with Jesus and call to discipleship.

OCIA

Through students’ experiences of religious instruction and the faith culture, sometimes students who are not practicing the Catholic faith desire to receive the Sacraments of Initiation, to follow Christ more fully and to belong to a Catholic Community of believers. In partnership with Christ the King Catholic Church, students who are not Catholic can enter the OCIA program (with parental permission), a time of formation to learn about and embrace the faith, so as to become full members through the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.

Through the AHN-CTK partnered OCIA, high school students will be able to complete approximately half their preparation on the AHN campus during community time and receive instruction from some of our own AHN faculty and staff (the other half of the sessions and rites are completed at Christ the King).