Faith Formation

St. Michael’s School is a place where our Catholic faith is integrated into every moment of every day. Faith formation is experienced not as something to be carried out only at home or on Sunday, but as something integrated into each student’s school life. Our staff model Christ-like behavior and bring a sense of the wonder of God’s creation into all subjects, from art to mathematics. At St. Michael’s School we incorporate prayer, worship, and study into our daily activities. SMS partners with the parish as a vibrant, life-giving ministry and a bringer of faith to the next generation. Although we bring Christ into the classroom in myriads of small ways, some of the more structured ways are:

Daily Prayer

SMS children start each day in prayer. Children K-6 gather first thing every morning as a whole school for a daily devotional and scripture reading, which the children themselves take turns leading. This is followed by a communal praying of the Lord’s Prayer, a pledge of allegiance, and individual prayer requests. It’s wonderful to hear the children pray aloud with their classmates for their concerns as well as those of their family and friends. When the opportunity avails, the preschoolers join in this group prayer. Prayer opportunities abound during the rest of the school day, with special prayer time scheduled before lunch and at the close of school.

Bible Reading

Through the study of the bible, the focus on weekly scripture passage in grades 1-6, and the availability of Bibles and Bible story books in our library and classrooms, the children celebrate God's love as revealed to us through his Holy Word.

Daily Religion Classes

SMS students receive the blessing of daily instruction in our Catholic faith. The overall goal of this daily instruction is for each student to have a clear knowledge of our faith and an ability to apply those Catholic beliefs in their actions through prayer, service to others, and all decision-making opportunities in their lives. Curriculum goals range from kindergartners recognizing that they are members of God’s family to 6th graders having a deeper understanding of the roots of the Catholic faith through the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures.

Weekly Mass

Every Thursday morning, all the students K-6 gather together for a school mass. With the help of their teachers, the students of each class take turns preparing the mass, and then participate as lectors, greeters, gift bearers, alter servers, and choir members. Father Tony directs his homily to the children at these masses

In-Classroom Teaching with Father

Fr. Tony regularly visits the classrooms at St. Michael’s, giving our students yet one more occasion to explore and deepen their faith.