Religious Education

Religion is not just a subject at Saint James the Greater School. It is part of who we are.  Catechesis, or the teaching of our faith, does not only consist of teaching Church Doctrine.  The other equally important components of catechesis include:  Living in Community as the Body of Christ, Service, and Prayer.  These individual areas are interwoven into the fabric of each school day in order to nurture the faith lives of our students. 

 Community…

Instruction, discipline, and interactions among members of the school community are rooted in Jesus’ Law of Love.  The Heartwood Attributes, respect, love, justice, courage, loyalty, honesty, and hope, plus our school’s attribute of faith, serve as constant reminders for students and staff to live as the Body of Christ.

 Service…

There are many opportunities for students to provide service to one another, to the school community as a whole, and to the broader community in which we live.  Eighth Grade students, in particular, are encouraged to take leadership roles in the area of service, with opportunities ranging from serving as ushers, coordinators, greeters, and other leadership roles during Mass to leading prayer in the classrooms at special times during the school year.

 Prayer…

Prayer sustains and supports all the words and actions of the Saint James School community.  Our individual and communal worship of God is the foundation of all we do at Saint James.  We praise God with formal and informal prayer – through prayer services and spontaneous prayer – with spoken words, singing, and movement – at work, at play, and at rest. Our goal as a school community is to live our mission and strive to praise God through our words and actions.