Religious Education
Spiritual formation is central to the mission of St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School.
Students learn the Catholic Christian faith and implement gospel values on a daily basis
in the school’s Christ-centered environment in order to become life-long disciples of Jesus.
Each day begins and ends with school wide prayers led by 8th graders and faculty.
Grace is said before all meals. School assemblies and special events all begin and end with group prayer.
The religious education curriculum follows that set forth by the Diocese of Savannah.
Each student receives a minimum of 150 hours of religious education each year through a combination of
religious education classes and Mass attendance. Each class attends Mass once a week, and the entire school attends mass together monthly on First Fridays and Holy Days of Obligation. The students assist with the liturgy as altar servers, lectors, gift bearers, and choir members.
Non-Catholic students participate in all aspects of faith formation to the extent that they can as non-Catholics. They are encouraged to learn about Catholicism and Christianity and to ask questions as appropriate.
Special religious events include the following:
- Adoration and Benediction of the Eucharist
- Recitation of the Rosary
- May Crowning of the Blessed Mother
- Lenten activities such as Stations of the Cross, Prayer Day, Seder Supper, and Operation Rice Bowl collections for the hungry around the world
- School-wide Mass for the start and end of the school year
- 7th and 8th grade Mass buddies – each junior high student is paired with a kindergartener or first grader to accompany the younger students and mentor them during all-school Masses
The school educates children in the foundations of the faith and strives to foster a love and appreciation of the liturgy. Families are obliged to partner in this process by attending Mass regularly, respecting the church by sharing time and talent, and setting a Christian example for others.