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Our faith is central to who we are. It’s what has helped us build a vibrant community. SFHS accompanies students, which entails deeply listening, supporting, and helping them understand how God is working in their lives. Our Catholic mission not only helps us better prepare students for college but also for life.
According to the Director of Pastoral Ministry Dr. Diane Mercadante, “Pastoral Ministry’s mission is to accompany students and the community as they journey in faith. By offering opportunities to encounter God through prayer, service, and community, we hope students’ knowledge in the Religion classroom becomes a reality in their lives. We want to offer tools to live the life of a Christ-follower long after they graduate from St. Francis High School. The spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi is a gift, and our hope is that they begin to see God in the eyes of the poor, all people, and all of creation. Each one of us has a call to bring about the reign of God, and by developing that relationship with our Creator, we can better serve God and our neighbor with our gifts and talents.”
Christian Service
The Christian Service Program aims to provide our students with the experiences and means of reflection that will stimulate growth in community engagement, relationship building, and social awareness. By introducing active involvement in their community, students will see the vitality of service with others while connecting it to one’s Catholic faith. Additionally, students will be more open to new opportunities and relationships by connecting with others from different backgrounds. Students grasp the complexity of social issues and the need to reflect and respond through a Franciscan lens. The corporal works of mercy were important to Saint Francis and Saint Clare, and in this Christian spirit, we hope students will deepen their faith and maybe even find their vocation and calling. A lifelong commitment to service is at the core of the SFHS experience.
Retreats
The SFHS retreat program offers students the opportunity to take time away from their busy academic, co-curricular, and social lives for prayer and reflection. While on retreat, students reflect on and discuss issues that affect their lives. Our retreat program is student-led to emphasize that students are the living examples of Christ in our community. Each year through junior year students are required to attend one retreat. Most choose the optional senior retreat, Kairos. The retreat program is a component of each student’s formation, regardless of religious affiliation, because it is integral to the holistic growth we offer each student and lies at the very heart of our goal of forming the whole person. Our retreat program strives to assist our students as they seek to find God in all things, come to a greater awareness of God’s actions in their lives, and deepen their relationship with Christ.
Liturgical Life
Celebrating the Eucharist is a part of community life at SFHS. At the beginning of the school day, students have an opportunity to gather to celebrate Eucharist together. Through the liturgical life at our school, we celebrate Christ, our Christian faith, and the community we share at SFHS. Also, SFHS celebrates school-wide liturgies, in which all students, faculty, and staff gather to participate in the life of the Church. Students lend their gifts to liturgies by serving in liturgical ministry roles such as altar serving, lecturing, ministering the Eucharist, music ministry, and hospitality.
Daily Campus Prayer
Our students pray daily on campus. In addition to all-school prayer during homeroom, classes and many sports/activities all begin with prayer. Our Catholic faith is central to what we do every day and our commitment to building the habit of daily prayer reflects our belief that daily prayer is essential to the growth of a spiritual life.
Student Ministry
Student Ministry is a group of student leaders who join with the Pastoral Ministry Team at SFHS to lead and serve the community in three primary components of religious formation and student representation at SFHS: liturgy, retreats, and service. We aim to respond to the call of Pope Francis by building a culture of accompaniment and encounter at SFHS.
• Student Ministry Team (SMT)
SMT brings together a diverse group of students called to lead and serve the SFHS community in faith formation. Students are responsible for the creation, development, and implementation of programs that can better affect the experiences of our students. Our SMT leaders serve as facilitators and guides to empower the sharing of faith. A goal of SMT is to invite students to be more involved with their faith while feeling connected to the heart of the SFHS community, Pastoral Ministry. In addition, as retreat leaders, they play an essential role in assisting their peers on their spiritual journeys while growing and enhancing their own faith.
• Men’s Spirituality Group & Women’s Spirituality Group
Weekly gatherings and monthly Sunday dinners encourage students to spend time with others, sharing and praying together. These groups are open to all and offer a place to check in and be supported by others who want to grow in their relationship with God and others. Scripture reflection, witness talks, small group time, prayer, and community building give students an opportunity to lead and share their faith as they grow with others.
Immersion Experiences
Our formative work extended beyond the doors of our building. To better reach out to a larger community in need, SHFS offers several immersion opportunities. This work allows students to be better educated on the needs of others. Each moment of culture and diversity will encourage students to better stand in solidarity with the vulnerable in our world.
Examples include:
- Neighbor Tutoring
- Faith & Fellowship
- Food Pantry
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