“Therefore, go forth and make disciples of all nations…”
Matthew 28:19
As a Catholic school faith community we do not simply imbue faith upon our students. We live the faith through ever deepening study of the Bible and how its message is increasingly more relevant today. Students have regular access to Mass, Scripture, Sacraments, and Catechism from K-4 through grade 8.
Pope John Paul wrote, “The Church is missionary by her very nature, for Christ’s mandate is not something contingent or external, but reaches the very heart of the Church.” (John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio, #62)
We are the church, our students are the church, our families are the church. Students lead weekly Mass so that we may receive the Body of Christ. It is a firm belief at St. Rafael that we receive the Body of Christ so we become the Body of Christ.
Becoming the Body of Christ through the modeling and practice of traditional prayers, spontaneous prayer, guided reflections, and spontaneous student conversations, is a natural outgrowth of the graces that flow from Baptism, Confirmation and all the Sacraments.
The faith strengthening relationship between students and adults at St. Rafael the Archangel school is a synergistic force, akin to the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This force acknowledges what Jesus himself said about children, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:17
We cherish the innocent love that children have for Jesus; at the same time we nourish it with prayerful insight, conversations about tradition, and critical yet reconciling self-reflection.
All of which creates students and Christians who know the Bible, the Church’s traditions, and rich graces that flow from a personal relationship with the Trinity.
“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him,” King Solomon in Psalm 127:3