Faith formation lies at the heart of the educational experience at Risen Christ Catholic School. Rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church, Risen Christ is committed to nurturing the spiritual development of our students by providing opportunities for students to deepen their relationship with God, understand Catholic teachings and traditions, and live out their faith in their daily lives.
Students participate in regular religious education classes that focus on liturgy, the sacraments, Catholic saints, and prayer. Through participation in daily prayer, opportunities for reconciliation and the celebration of weekly Mass on Thursdays, students strengthen their understanding of the Eucharist and develop a sense of belonging to the larger faith community. (Sacramental preparation is received by students at their individual parishes.)
Risen Christ warmly welcomes students of all faith traditions, fostering ecumenical understanding and mutual respect. Faith formation at Risen Christ creates a nurturing and supporting environment, where students graduate ready to make a positive difference in the world.
Catholic Traditions from Around the Globe:
At Risen Christ, we enjoy celebrating the Catholic traditions from a variety of countries that represent the heritage of our students. Some festivities include Las Posadas, honoring the journey of Mary and Joseph, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, paying tribute to the patroness of the Americas, and Dia de los Muertos, where students come together to honor and remember their deceased loved ones on All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
Service:
Additionally, students engage in service-learning opportunities that encourage them to live and lead in the example of Jesus Christ by directly serving others. Through acts of charity and community service, students learn important virtues of the Catholic faith. Recent projects have included picking up trash in the community on Earth Day, raising money to support Every Meal, and participating in the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl to aid farmers in Honduras.
Virtue Education:
To foster a strong sense of community and faith among our students, Risen Christ Catholic School places each student into a Spirit House: Gaudium (Joy), Veritas (Truth), Servitium (Service), Fides (Faith), Humilitas (Humility), Justicia (Justice), Caritas (Charity), and Lumen (Light). Middle school students are placed into Spirit Houses with mixed-grade groups of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, allowing for meaningful mentorship, collaboration, and leadership development. These Spirit Houses provide an invaluable opportunity for students to connect and engage with peers across different grade levels, promoting a deeper understanding of their faith and encouraging mutual support, leadership, and growth.
Additionally, in the months of March and May, one boy and girl from each grade level are awarded St. Joseph and St. Mary Awards for exemplifying the virtues of these great saints.
Meet Heydi (Alumni):
Risen Christ middle school teachers commented that during her middle school years, Heydi has truly internalized a growth mindset. She is industrious and always looks for ways to improve both as a student and as a member of the middle school community. She is sweet, kind and loving to all her peers. You can really see the virtues of Mary at work through Heydi in how she respects others, herself and her Risen Christ community. She is a great role model for all Risen Christ students.
An 8th grader, Heydi, in her own words, is going to miss Risen Christ but can’t wait for her next chapter in life:
“When I started getting good grades and actually utilizing my academic skills to the fullest, I started working harder and setting my goals higher. The teachers encouraged me to work hard and never give up because they told me, ‘Heydi, you are very smart and you are capable of doing this. Don’t ever give up because you are a kind, loving student.’ They always made sure we focused on academics and personal growth, so that in the future we may have a stable job and be successful. Strengthened by my teachers’ daily motivations, I can truly say that Risen Christ has become one of the most important and impactful experiences of my life – a safe, welcoming place where all can thrive and grow.”
Meet Third Grader Stalyn:
Recognized as one of our 2024 Saint Joseph Award recipients, Stalyn arrived at Risen Christ in 2022. As his teachers said of him, “An incredible student came from far away to steal our hearts with his smile.”
He immediately started learning English with such effort that he almost forgot Spanish and spoke in English to his Spanish teacher. He is very attentive to his teachers and he likes to bring gifts made by his own hands to his teachers and classmates. Each school quarter his grades have improved. He strives every week to bring in his schoolwork. He likes photography, soccer, going to the gym and singing in class.
Congratulations, Stalyn! We are so grateful to have students like you at Risen Christ!