Faith Formation

The Faith formation of students at St. Matthew Catholic School is one of the most important differences that sets our school apart from the rest. The foundation of our school is built on our commitment to religious education. Religion is the center of our curriculum and it is vital to our identity as a Catholic school. The objective of religious instruction is to teach our children the basic doctrines and traditions of our Catholic Faith.
Each school day begins with prayer, students attend Mass once a week, and study of our Faith is an integrated part of our school day. The Diocesan course of study serves as the guideline for the religious curriculum.

The children practice daily religious instruction that explains the catechism to them while informing their behavior and their relationships with each other.  We teach our children to embody the virtues of integrity, humility, charity, piety; and to value the sancitity of human life and the dignity of the human person.

Our students participate directly in the Liturgy of the Mass, and pray at different times throughout the school day. Most importantly, they partake of the Sacraments which allow them to experience the beautiful mystery of the Divine. 

The Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion take place in second grade. Preparation for these sacraments is integrated in to the curriculum.

Our weekly Mass for the schoolchildren is a wonderful manifestation of what makes St. Matthew Catholic School so special. The children come to Mass with a cheerful comportment, and there they learn to sing joyfully and pray with reverence. They develop a perfect understanding of Christ’s love and cultivate a close relationship with God.

Students are encouraged to practice their faith by receiving the sacraments, attending Mass regularly, praying the Rosary and participating in community service. Our teachers employ creative ideas to make certain aspects of our Faith more accessible to the children; such as the balloon rosary that we pray together and release during Catholic Schools Week, the 8th grade’s moving reenactment of the Passion during Lent, and the All Saints’ Mass where our Kindergartners dress as their favorite patron Saint.
 
 When you walk through the hallways of our school, you will see a testament to our Faith in: the nurturing encouragement from our teachers, the positive exchange of ideas taking place in our classrooms, the sacred images of Christ, Our Lady and the saints on our campus, and the living manifestations of Christ Himself as reflected in the smiling faces of our students.

Each child nourishes a unique, very personal relationship with God and experiences the depth and beauty of spiritual life within the St. Matthew Church Community through participation in: 

* Prayer services
* Traditional celebrations 
* Saints' feast days 
* Daily religion class 
* Weekly Mass
* The Sacraments 
* Spiritual retreats 
* Opportunities to serve in the Parish through
altar service, Choir, donations & food drives for
St. Vincent de Paul