This year our Catholic Identity Theme is “Open Your Heart! make holy moments - receive mighty miracles.”
Our goal for this year is for students to open their hearts and be more aware and attentive to how God is working in their lives. We want them to be open to Jesus through the reception of the Eucharist, but also open to hope, faith, and the fullness of life He wants for us. Our lives are full of choices. Often, when we go awry, or make a bad choice, it is because we lose sight of God working in our lives. We hope students can see that “some moments are holy, some moments are unholy and we get to decide.”
We will challenge our school family to create holy moments. A holy moment is, “a single moment in which you open yourself to God. You make yourself available to him. You set aside personal preferences and self interest and for one moment you do what you prayerfully believe God is calling you to do.”
Empowered by the miracle of the Eucharist - we have the opportunity to create our own holy moments every single day. We hope to challenge our students to find holiness in little things like opening the door for someone, smiling at someone, praying for someone, or forgiving someone. Those holy moments cumulatively can open our hearts to Jesus and give our lives the meaning only He can give.
We hope that students realize and internalize Matthew Kelly’s mantra, “Every day, in every way, I am collaborating with God to create more holy moments daily because the Messiah is indeed among us… You were made in the image of God. Act accordingly”
We want our students to understand that having complete faith and confidence in Jesus is what makes miracles possible. Students should understand that a miracle is a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency. Jesus performed miracles throughout his life, but was only able to do so in collaboration with individuals who had full faith in his ability to heal them. We have the ability to witness His greatest miracle every day as a simple host becomes Jesus!
ALL SCHOOL PRAYER
Open Wide the Door of My Heart
Lord God almighty,
open wide the door of my heart
and illumine it with the grace of the Holy Spirit,
that I may seek what is pleasing to your will.
Guide my thoughts and my heart,
and lead my life in the way of your commandments,
that I may always seek to fulfill them,
and that I may grasp the eternal joys of the heavenly life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: The Venerable Bede (672–735)
1ST TRIMESTER PRAYER
Holy Mary, Obtain for me the help that I need, to do my very best using all the powers within me and all the talents and skills I possess, according to my possibilities, to fulfill God's plan in every circumstance of my life.
Amen
2ND TRIMESTER PRAYER
MEMORARE
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me.
Amen
3RD TRIMESTER PRAYER
THE ANGELUS
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning, and weeping in this valley of tears!
Turn, then, most gracious Advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this, our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Amen