In Catholic schools across the Diocese of Camden, students are surrounded by Catholic values and Christian morals each day. These young people see these norms modeled both in the classroom and throughout the school community.
“Being immersed in faith daily at school helps students see the value in having strong relationships – with God, with family, with friends, with the community,” said Alicia Farren, principal of Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School, Cape May Court House. “They learn the importance and the power of prayer. They see not only beauty in our Catholic traditions, but God’s presence in them and in their daily lives.”
Students in all grades there, starting with Pre-K, have daily religion classes, with journal reflections and projects expanding on the lessons taught in classroom sessions. Students also plan Masses and prayer services and participate as lectors, gift bearers, altar servers and members of the choir. Farren said the school also pairs younger students with older ones who serve as prayer partners. They meet monthly to get to know each other, and the older youth serve as role models for younger students. Additionally, the school adopted a social-emotional learning program, Friendzy Biblical, to help teach students about God’s design for friendship through Scripture.
Farren said her students are also engaged in parishes in the surrounding communities – including Saint Brendan the Navigator, Avalon; Saint Joseph, Sea Isle City; Our Lady of the Angels, Cape May Court House, and Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Marmora.
The parish priests serve as celebrants of school Masses and prayer services, as well as Advent and Lenten services. They also participate in school events.
In addition, the pastors also invite students into their parishes to greet parishioners before Masses, participate in services and sing as a school choir. Some of the school’s biggest celebrations – graduations and the annual Christmas show – take place in the local parishes, as well.
“Both the parish and school benefit from this because it establishes strong relationships between pastor and students, pastor and families, and parishioners and students,” Farren said. “It also provides a strong faith community for students as they continue to grow – a strong, faith-based support system on this journey.”
For students attending Assumption Regional Catholic School, faith, morals and values are also part of daily life in the Galloway school.
“I like to say that religion class takes place all day in everything that we do and in everything that we study,” said principal Joan Dollinger. “For example, if we are studying the Holocaust in U.S. history, we have the unique opportunity to bring God into the conversation. If we are studying evolution in science, the students get to learn about God’s role in creation. We pray throughout the day, we go to Mass, we participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation [and] we perform service.”
Dollinger said that the school is immersed in Gospel values, and that those values are seen in encounters between teachers and students, among faculty members, and between teachers and parents. They also integrate the “Virtues in Practice” program with the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia, with this year’s focus on the Year of Hope.
“Some of our monthly virtues include hope, studiousness, humility, patience and obedience,” she said. “Each month, the students are engaged in activities about the virtue, including studying particular saints. For example, January is fidelity, and we are examining Saint Cecilia and Saint Gianna Molla.”
These experiences within the school community carry over to the students in their personal lives, she said.
“Outside of school, our students are encouraged to be active in their parishes by attending Sunday liturgy, participating in the sacraments, singing in the choir, being altar servers, being in youth group and serving the community,” Dollinger said.
Like Farren, Dollinger believes that this immersion in faith and the modeling of Christian values and morals are important for students as they grow into young adults.
“It is what we are called to do and to be,” Dollinger said. “We are called to live Gospel values, we are called to live a life of virtue, we are called to participate fully in the life of the Church, we are called to pray for one another, and we are called to be of service, especially to those on the margins.”
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