Faith
The Season Of Lent - Lent is a solemn time in which we prepare our hearts and minds for the joyous promise of Easter. It lasts forty days, and is a time of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. Lent will be an important focus for the students, parents and teachers of Holy Spirit Academy. There will be a variety of Lenten lessons, activities, discussions, presentations and celebrations in the coming two month. Our objective for the seasons of Lent and Easter is for our students to become more aware of their Christian responsibilities as we guide them in their journey with and toward God. As always, parents are invited to attend our Lenten celebrations.
Prayer - During the season of Lent, our students will be participating in extra prayers such as the Elementary Stations of the Cross. These quiet and prayerful celebrations will be held in the Gymnasium and will consist of a Liturgy and Stations of the Cross dramatizations. We will also be celebrating Mass during the season of Lent. Please accept this as your invitation to join us.
Fasting - As a Lenten effort of fasting – staff and students at Holy Spirit Academy will be reflecting on Lenten promises of fasting and simple living. There are a variety of ways individuals choose to fast during lent – from food to habits and many others. As part of our religion classes and Morning Prayer, students will be discussing the significance of this fasting and sacrifice.
Almsgiving - Almsgiving can be as simple as acts of kindness, such as smiling at someone and saying hello - especially when people need it the most. During Lent, our staff and students will focus on giving to those in need with our most treasured resource – our kindness, time and care. We will all be reflecting on this during Morning Prayer and religion classes.
Ash Wednesday and Lent in Two Minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1_XaBFlCiw
Prayer Fasting and Almsgiving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtcLwymtX9M
Follow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXc1a_58VMw
A very Special Easter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbiRltnnAY0
Nobody but Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH5uvZIYooE
Faith Programs @ HSA
For Religion, our school uses the Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ program. This is an excellent resource that has been developed for children in Grades 1 – 5. The publishers are currently working on the Grade 6 program and we anticipate it will be available for next school year. One of the bonus features of this program is the parent links that assist parents in supporting their children’s faith journeys. Please visit the following link to the student/home page where you can access all of the different resources for all grade levels (with the exception of Grade 6). Please call the school for a user name and password.
http://www.pearsoncanada.ca/school/growinginfaith/student-home/