Mass/Confession/Way of the Cross/Prayer Service

Because Masses, Confessions, Way of the Crosses and prayer services are crucial to the Catholic faith and education, students’ presence is mandatory. Students assist in the preparation and celebration of school liturgies. In order to establish a reflective and reverent mood, each student is to enter the church or the gym in silence and maintain silence until the celebration begins. Students are encouraged to participate in the singing and appropriate congregational responses. Any student being disruptive or disrespectful at Mass will be disciplined. It is a common expectation that non-Catholic students participate in the spiritual exercises of the school or remain silently reverent. Reverent participation in prayer and song are expected.                 
 
  Attendance is mandatory at ALL school masses, Confessions, Way of the Crosses and prayer services. To fill the obligation for an absence of either, 2^nd – 12^th grade students must attend a make-up mass, Confession or Way of the Cross within a week of the missed school mass/Confession/Way of the Cross/prayer service and have the designated priest sign his/her make-up form as acknowledgement of the student’s attendance. Although make-up/obligation forms are available to download on the school website, they are also available in the high school office and are distributed by the elementary Homeroom teachers. Should a student not complete his/her obligation within the allotted time, he/she will be required to attend 7:00 a.m. detention until his/her Mass/Prayer Service obligation is fulfilled. Attendance at weddings, funerals or any other Mass scheduled for a “special occasion” is not accepted to fill the obligation for the absence of a school Mass and/or prayer service. If a student attends the 8^th Grade Promotional Mass for a sibling and would like to have the Mass fulfill a Mass obligation, it is the student’s responsibility to receive permission from the Religion Administrator prior to attending the event.
 
In the event a non-Catholic student misses a school Mass, Way of the Cross or prayer service, he/she is expected to attend a Catholic Mass to fulfill the obligation.
 
Students are allowed a maximum of 2 absences, excused or unexcused, for school Masses/Confessions/Way of the Crosses and/or prayer services per semester. Should a student be absent for more than the allowable amount, he/she will receive an automatic one day in-school suspension.
 
Students attending a school function on the day of a scheduled School Mass, Ways of the Cross, Confession and/or Prayer Service, are excused from fulfilling their obligation if permission has been granted by the Religion Administrator PRIOR to the school function (Ex. FBLA, Literary Rally…)
 
Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation both at school and in their respective parishes. Active involvement at the parish level is recommended as an excellent introduction to the larger church community.