Spirituality
St. John's students live the Gospel message of Christ each day through their actions and thoughts through formal instruction and daily interaction with one another.
Religion and morality are nurtured and enhanced through:
• Daily school prayer
• Daily religion classes
• Opportunities for shared prayer experiences
• Monthly school liturgies prepared by students
• Prayer services celebrated for various feasts and holidays
• Penitential Services- Advent and Lent
• Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist for
students and parents
• Grade 8 retreat
• Various community outreach projects
• Altar servers
• Youth Choir
• Youth Ministry program lead by Marie Hardy
• Community service at a local soup kitchen and at St. Luke's of Mercy
Mission for 7th and 8th graders
• Clergy and Religious presence and involvement in school community
• All faiths welcome!
Faith in Action
St. John the Baptist students at all grade levels are able to participate in Christian service activities that put their faith Into action, including:
- Altar Serving: Girls and boys may volunteer to serve at weekend Masses and other celebrations.
- Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen: 7th and 8th grade students volunteer each week at this Elmwood Avenue Soup Kitchen, All students have the opportunity to volunteer at least once a school year.
- St. Luke's of Mercy Mission: 7th and 8th grade students volunteer at Thanksgiving and Christmas time to assist with the mass distribution of food, clothing, toys, etc.
- Peer Ministry: 7th and 8th grade may attend Peer Ministry Wednesdays with our parish youth minister, Marie Hardy. It's an opportunity to fellowship with friends, pray as a group, and plan and participate in service projects, including a live "Stations of the Cross" during lent.
- Blankets of love: students participate in an on-going project to make blankets which are shared with people undergoing treatment for cancer.
- Holy Hour: 1st grade students present a Christmas Holy Hour to the families and students of St. John's.
- Help for Haiti: School-wide effort to raise funds for the Haitian earthquake relief and specifically, to fund the reconstruction of a girls' orphanage. To date. over $1,000 has been raised by various activities.
- Mail for Military: letter campaign to our U,S, Armed Forces serving overseas and in the United States to show our support and appreciation,
- St. Nicholas Toy Drive: Hundreds of toys are donated to Ken-Ton and Buffalo charitable organizations to help make Christmas brighter for alI.