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Religious Experience at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in Indio, CA

Religious Experience

A Faith Formation Enrichment

One of the joys in teaching religion daily is the opportunity to embrace our faith in a meaningful way. Students and families at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School are able to participate in various prayer services throughout the school year.

Seasonal Celebrations

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School

Father’s and Mother’s Day

Celebrating St. Joseph’s Day by inviting fathers, grandfathers, or a significant father figure attend a special prayer service with the school community exemplifies values and the importance of honoring St. Joseph as our father “mentor”. Celebrating Mother’s Day in May with our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, etc. signifies the respect given to Our Mother Mary. Students write essays about the father and mother figures that have made a valuable impact in their lives. These two special prayer services are well-received by the school community.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School

Mardi Gras

Another way to share spirituality is the celebration of Mardi Gras. All parents/guardians are invited to attend this activity. In this prayer service, students recognize the great gift of Creation given to us by God. We praise and thank Him for this wonderful gift of life. After the prayer service, the school partakes of lunch as a community. We further celebrate God’s gift of talent as students are invited to participate in a talent show. Mardi Gras is emphasized as a celebration of life in all its fullness. The stark contrast to Lent as a season of prayer, alms-giving, and fasting is called to attention the next day on Ash Wednesday.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School

Lent

The school begins the season of Lent with a Mass during which blessed ashes are distributed. Parents are encouraged to attend this mass with their children. During the season, teachers stress the importance of growing closer to Jesus through the three disciplines of Lent. Parents are encouraged to help their children recognize this important component of spiritual life through the school newsletter, teachers’ communiqués that are sent home, and the donations to Holy Childhood Association with the “My Lenten Offering” folders.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School

Advent

The school begins the season of Advent with a traditional Blessing of the Advent Wreath. Each class gathers together in assembly for prayer and blessing of their classroom Advent Wreath. The liturgical season of Advent marks the time of spiritual preparation for the Birth of Christ. Throughout the Season of Advent, faculty and staff prepare students for Christmas through incorporating schoolwide and/or class activities pertaining to Advent. Additionally, classes complete service projects as a means to teach students the values and teachings of Jesus.

Sacramental Preparation

Our Lady of Perpetual Help School offers sacramental preparation in Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist for students in grade 3. For a student to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist, the student must be baptized in the Catholic faith and must have attended Faith Formation classes with a parish for one year prior to grade 3 or have been enrolled in a Catholic school for one year prior to grade 3. Students in grade 3 receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist in the spring of their third grade year.

Religious Enrichment Activities

Our Lady of Perpetual Help School enriches the faith formation of each student and families with:

Weekly school liturgies
Thanksgiving food drives
Classroom Seder Meals
Blessing of the Throat

Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist

Stations of the Cross
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Praying the rosary
Advent and Lenten service projects

Catholic Schools Week

Various opportunities for students to be active ministers such as:
Altar serving – assist the presider at weekly and special Eucharistic Celebrations. Altar Servers must be practicing Catholics that have received First Communion. Requirements include serving at assigned Masses and attend scheduled meetings.
Music
Lectors
Liturgical dance

Religion is a lived reality at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School. Faculty, students, and families not only are able to partake in these prayer experiences, but are able to share the “Good News” about their faith and why this is one reason they have their children enrolled at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School.