Mass and Morning Prayer
Our chapel is a beautifully adorned and inspiring sacred space that is open to students, faculty, staff, parents and visitors daily for personal prayer, quiet reflection or community devotion.
From Preschool through Middle School, we offer opportunities for learning, worship, daily prayer, reflection, school liturgies, the sacraments, and the integration of morals and values in academic studies. We follow the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church and invite our school community to celebrate Feast Days and holy days accordingly. During the Advent and Lenton seasons, we partake in stations-of-the-cross and hold penance services for students wishing to practice the sacrament of reconciliation.
From Preschool through Middle School, we offer opportunities for learning, worship, daily prayer, reflection, school liturgies, the sacraments, and the integration of morals and values in academic studies. We follow the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church and invite our school community to celebrate Feast Days and holy days accordingly. During the Advent and Lenton seasons, we partake in stations-of-the-cross and hold penance services for students wishing to practice the sacrament of reconciliation.
Weekly mass is held on Friday mornings for students, faculty, staff, parents and visitors. Each class takes the lead in the liturgy on a rotating basis and provides readers, gift bearers and music. All Kindergarten and first grade students are assigned older "Mass Buddies" who serve as spiritual shepherds to the younger students. Special friendships develop from attending the liturgy together throughout the year.
Morning prayer is held daily, and students often take on the responsibility for leading the service. On Mondays, the entire school gathers in the gymnasium and students begin the week with pledges, prayers of the month, scripture and scripture meditation, lessons on Saints and about the Catholic faith traditions. On Wednesdays, Lower School students from Kindergarten through fifth grade meet in the Commons to begin the day together. Even our youngest students lead the community in prayer. There is a pure child-like reverence apparent as children as young as five read the scripture and recite the school oath. Student reflections may include biblical skits, visual art, and American sign-language as an integral part of daily prayer. Middle School students from grades six through eight begin their day together with prayer in the Middle School foyer. Reverently and confidently, the students freely ask for special prayers for family and friends as well as read scripture, offer reflections on God's word, recite the Middle School Honor Code, and meditate during sacred music.
While these experiences form the core of our mission and tradition, we affirm the right of each child and member of our community to follow spiritual paths open to discussion and inquiry that are respectful and mindful of our Catholic tradition and accepting of differing views.
St. Gabriel's Catholic School
St. Gabriel's Catholic School is an Independent Catholic school in Austin TX, educating children in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school.
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