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Campus Ministry

“We can state in a word the kind of teaching we wish to impart. We do not want our students to be ignorant of anything they should know. To this end, we shall avoid no sacrifice. We shall always place education side by side with instruction: the mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart. While we prepare useful citizens for society, we shall likewise do our utmost to prepare citizens for eternal life.” 
– Blessed Basil Moreau, Founder, Congregation of Holy Cross
 
Holy Cross School is dedicated to the development of the whole man: Mind and Heart, Body and Soul. Our Campus Ministry program coordinates and supports the liturgical, sacramental and spiritual needs of the school community.  In the spirit of the charism of the Congregation of Holy Cross, and the vision of its founder, Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., Holy Cross Campus Ministry is dedicated to making God known, loved, and served through outreach to the school community, and the community-at-large, through liturgies, prayer services, retreats and meaningful service.

 

 

Sacraments and School Liturgies:

The Holy Cross School community gathers on a regular basis to celebrate our Catholic faith. Opportunities are available for all students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

 

  • Monthly School Liturgies
  • Advent Reconciliation Service
  • Lenten Reconciliation Service
  • Weekly Prayer Services
  • Spiritual Counseling
  • Daily Morning Mass in the Chapel
  • Monthly Rosary Service

The Holy Cross Peer Ministry group is under the umbrella of Campus Ministry and is formed by choosing seniors who are interviewed and have completed a personal questionnaire. This procedure is open to all seniors. The Peer Ministers explore a variety of methods and styles of prayer and discover the meaning and value of ministry to others while practicing the skill by reaching out to others on and off campus. The Peer Ministers develop effective leadership skills through work in campus ministry.

The Peer Ministers are charged with and share in enhancing the sacramental life of our student body through planning and providing meaningful Liturgies and facilitate activities such as reconciliation services and prayer meetings. The Peer Ministers plan, implement and effectively evaluate a meaningful retreat program for students at all grade levels.

Holy Cross School is built on the philosophy of developing servant leaders and leading by example. We provide regular opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff to give back to those in need through community service and to come together as a faith community for retreats and times of reflection.

 

Retreats and Days of Service:

  • Senior Day of Service
  • 7th Grade Day of Service
  • 8th Grade Day of Service
  • 9th Grade Retreat
  • 10th Grade Retreat
  • Junior Morning of Reflection
  • Senior Overnight Retreat

 

Holy Cross Immersion Program:

  • Holy Cross Summer Immersion
  • Holy Cross Spring Immersion

 

Faculty and Staff Formation:

  • Mission Retreat
  • Faculty and Staff Day of Service

The goal of the Holy Cross Service Requirements is based on the philosophy of Holy Cross School. "The school is committed to serving our community and society through our actions." Service is not optional. It is an obligation we have as Christians and as members of our Holy Cross family. The Holy Cross service requirement is designed to help students become an active part of the legacy of the Holy Cross. The service requirement has been designed to achieve the following goals:

  • To give each student the opportunity to reflect on the message of Jesus Christ in regard to serving others.
  • To provide the opportunity for each student to experience different types of service with a variety of disadvantaged individuals in order to assist in clarifying each student’s particular gifts and talents.
  • To emphasize to parents and students the importance Holy Cross School places on service to God’s disadvantaged and marginalized by requiring a specific number of hours of service.
  • To provide an opportunity for students to develop skills in working with people—skills that are important for life, not just for school.

Social justice has been a significant part of our Holy Cross Mission since the establishment of the Congregation of Holy Cross by Father Moreau.  All of our schools have had social justice as a part of our educational ministry since our schools were begun. Informal shared activity began amongst some of our schools in the mid-1990s.  In 1999 a social justice experience was formally established.

 

In 1994 the Presidents and Principals of our five schools committed to working together and reinforcing each other as a commitment to the legacy of Holy Cross's mission and values. The group invited the Provincial of the South West Province to join us in this collegial effort and named itself “The Table.”  The Table committed to meeting twice a year to continue supporting each other.  Realizing the value of this networking and support through The Table, it was decided to expand the network sharing among our teachers, staff, and students as a means of Holy Cross formation. The decision to extend the sharing to our students was made in 1997 and, at the urging of the leaders from St. Francis and Holy Cross New Orleans two programs formally were begun and continue to keep us connected in mutual support of our Holy Cross mission: 

  • Holy Cross Conference for Student Leaders in 1998
  • Holy Cross Immersion in 1999
 

 Holy Cross Immersion was created as a social justice experience giving our students and the chaperoning adults an opportunity to live our Holy Cross Mission. Through this program, our “Holy Cross Family” makes a difference in the local communities of the host school by identifying and exploring the social justice needs of each geographic area. Hosting responsibility has rotated among the five schools.

 

Each Immersion tends to be unique based on the location. The purpose is not to provide a tourist experience though seeing the contrasts that exist in all of our cities can be a learning experience for the students. The focus must always be on interacting and doing; not just looking and learning.