Faith Formation
The St. Barnabas School family is a faith community that nurtures the spiritual lives of students, families, faculty and staff. Helping each student develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is at the heart of our education. Our faculty and staff are expected to know, support and model the teachings of the Catholic Church, and Catholic identity is intentionally integrated into the academic curriculum. It is also the foundation of the philosophy and expectations that are part of co-curricular activities, student clubs, leadership and service opportunities and competitions.
Weekly Mass
Our Catholic Identity at St. Barnabas is evident in the fact that every school day begins and ends with a school-wide prayer. Students attend Mass every week, and each class has the opportunity to participate in at least one Mass per school year. Parents and family members are welcomed and encouraged to attend and sit with their children during the weekly school Mass.
Honor Guard
Our 7th and 8th graders serve as an honor guard at designated funeral celebrations throughout the school year.
Living our Faith through Service
Our students participate in a variety of service projects and students support charitable organizations such as Nigeria Clean Water project, West Side Catholic Center, Christmas Giving Tree, St. Vincent De Paul, Coats for Kids and clothing and food drives and much more.
Advent Season
At Christmas our Preschoolers celebrate with a performance of the Birth of Jesus, while our our primary students perform a montage of Christmas songs. Students celebrate of birth of Jesus by attending prayer services and reconciliation. The Feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated each year with a visit from St. Nick himself. The students also perform Christmas concerts.
Lenten Season
Students attend the sacrament of reconciliation and various prayer services such as Stations of the Cross and foot washing.
Stations of the Cross
During Lent, we walk with Jesus on the road to Calvary as classes take part in a key stage liturgy of Stations of the Cross. This is highlighted with a reenactment performance of the Stations by the 7th grade students.
Breakfast of Champions
Each Lenten season our junior high students are invited to "champion their faithâ by attending 7:00 a.m. Mass followed by breakfast and an inspirational speaker.
All School Retreat
Hosted each year, the all school retreat offers our students opportunities to express their faith, to learn more about themselves, and to experience different forms of prayer.
May Crowning
Each year, the students at St. Barnabas participate in a May Crowning ceremony to honor the Blessed Mother. The May Crowning ceremony involves the entire student body, with special participation from the 8th grade students. The May Crowning ceremony is a timeless tradition, and we invite all parents, family members and parishioners to join in this special ceremony.
Saint of the Year Student Awards
Each year St. Barnabas focuses on a theme along with a specific Saint. At the end of each quarter one student in each homeroom is recognized for emulating the chosen Saint.
Theology of the Body
At St. Barnabas, we offer this faith based program to our 7th graders. The program provides answers based on Catholic/Christian beliefs to the following questions:
- Who am I?
- Are there consequences to my actions?
- What is the difference between love and lust?
- How do I balance family, friends, school, God, music, TV, internet, texting, etc., in my daily life?
- How can I discern my vocation to marriage, priesthood, or religious life?
- How do I deal with bullying, gossip, peer pressure, divorce, etc.?
- Can I live my Catholic Faith no matter how I messed up in the past?