Our Catholic faith is the heart of who we are and all that we do. We believe that teaching the children to love as Christ has loved them will yield positive fruits in their lives and in the lives of those they meet. Ultimately, we want to help them become saints.
The goal of our catechetical efforts is to foster an environment that helps a Catholic Christian develop in knowing, practicing, and continuing to grow in the understanding of and teachings of Jesus and of the Catholic Church that we inherited from Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. It is in the Catholic Christian community, in its prayer and sacred liturgies and in its lived experience, that students will continue to learn how to live the challenge of the Catholic faith so as to help build God’s Kingdom of justice, peace, and love.
The course of study offers standards in the areas of: Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship, Knowledge of Faith, Liturgy and Sacraments, Morality, Christian Prayer, and Community Life. Under each standard are major objectives for that specific area. These objectives are placed on a chart showing when they are to be introduced, developed, mastered, and maintained. Each of these objectives has grade level indicators which show what students in that grade should know and what skills they should practice.
More information about the Diocesan Course of Study for Religion can be found here.
All Catholic schools in the Diocese of Columbus teach the Theology of the Body (TOB). TOB explains God’s design for our nature, which is a blueprint for moral living that adults and children can understand and apply to the hard questions about sex, gender, life, marriage and the ongoing quest for human fulfillment. More information about this program can be found here: https://www.ruahwoodsinstitute.org/columbus/
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. The term “Eucharist” originates from the Greek word eucharistia, meaning thanksgiving. In the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. As as school, we come together each week to participate in the celebration of the Holy Mass. Family members are welcome to join us!
During Eucharistic Adoration, the faithful pray to Jesus Christ, who is present in the Eucharist. The Eucharist, also referred to as the Blessed Sacrament, is kept in a tabernacle at our church.
While it is true that you can pray to God anywhere and that He is always within you, it is especially powerful to adore Jesus in the Eucharist. In the presence of the Eucharist, we pray to the body of Jesus Who gave His life so that we may live. It is His body, blood, soul and divinity that is really, truly, and substantially present in the Eucharist.
We adore and receive the Eucharist in Communion at Mass, which is the most beautiful act of worship that we have as Catholics. We have Jesus truly present in all of the tabernacles around the world. We can continue to adore Him in the Eucharist after Mass in a quiet time of prayer and contemplation on Who we have just received . Being in the presence of the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ gives spiritual strength and nourishment in a uniquely powerful way.
As a school, we gather together each month for Adoration and Benediction. Family members are welcome to join us!
Our second and eighth grade students receive sacramental preparation for the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion (2nd grade) and Confirmation (8th grade).
Additionally, the Basilica of Saint Mary welcomes those who are new to the Lancaster area and would like to join our parish church, those who are looking to return to an active practice of the Catholic faith and participation in the sacramental life, or those adults or families interested in becoming Catholic through our parish O.C.I.A. Process. For more information, please visit: https://stmarylancaster.org/2018/becoming-catholic/
For Catholics, the liturgical calendar marks the Church year, a sequence of seasons and feasts celebrated in the liturgy during a year’s time. The liturgical calendar uses terms and measurements similar to a typical calendar. However, the liturgical calendar’s purpose is to celebrate and understand the mystery of Jesus Christ and the expectation of His return in glory. In each liturgical year, we celebrate the entire life and paschal mystery of Jesus Christ. Liturgies celebrated during different seasons have distinctive music and specific readings, prayers, rituals, and colors.
At Saint Mary School, we celebrate the liturgical seasons by having an Advent Calendar, Lenten Penance Service, and more.
Throughout the year, our students attend various retreats to deepen their faith lives. Our second grade students attend a First Communion retreat, our fifth and sixth grade students attend a faith and science retreat at Damascus, our seventh grade students attend a leadership retreat at Damascus, and our eighth grade students attend a Confirmation retreat at Damascus.
St. Mary School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Students enrolled 2023-2024: 254
254 OCE 4110.0 BACKGROUND CHECKS All paid school staff must have on file both BCI and FBI background checks and must attend “Protecting God’s Children.” All volunteers must have on file a BCI background check and must attend “Protecting God’s Children” no matter how much or how little contact they have with children or youth, no matter if volunteering for the school or parish, and no matter what time of the day or night they volunteer.
Faith. Knowledge. Leadership.