Besides the religion classes that are a regular
part of the school curriculum, there are multiple other avenues
for the religious and spiritual growth and development of the
school community: Mass, prayer days, retreats, advent and lenten
reconciliation services.
Mass: Mass is celebrated each
day in the school chapel. On school days, Mass is scheduled for
8:15am and is optional. On Wednesdays, one of the classes, another
student group, or the faculty take turns sponsoring the Mass.
The group chooses the music and assigns readers and servers. A
member of the class or group normally gives the homily based on
the days readings or readings chosen for the occasion. The girls
normally sponsor the Mass on the first Friday of each month. On
Saturdays and other non-school/class days Mass is normally scheduled
for 11:30am. Sunday Mass is 5:15pm and all members of the school
community living on campus are expected to participate.
Masses for Special Occasions: The school year
begins and ends with a special Mass. The Mass of the Holy Spirit
helps get us started and the Departure Mass held on the last day
of the school year is our final prayer together as a school community
before people disperse for the summer. Xavier Day, the celebration
of our patron, St. Francis Xavier, on or around December 3 begins
with Mass, as does our biennial Cultural Day. Mass is also celebrated
on campus for Christmas, Holy Week and Easter for those staying
on campus during those times. The annual Baccalaureate Mass is
celebrated on the day before graduation. Other liturgical celebrations
may be scheduled as appropriate.
Nebukos Mass: Once a month, normally the last
Saturday, the school community sponsors the 6:00pm English Mass
at Holy Family Church in Nebukos. This is treated as an official
school activity and all faculty are expected to participate. Members
of the Xavier community lead the singing, do the readings and
petitions, and serve the Mass.
Prayer Days: The freshmen and sophomores have
one to two prayer days scheduled during the school year. On those
days they do not have regular classes. Usually lead by one or
two faculty members with help from a few upperclassmen, the students
spend the day engaged in various activities and discussions.
Retreats: Both the juniors and seniors have
off-island weekend retreats, variously lead by faculty or someone
invited from outside. The senior retreat normally is scheduled
for the third weekend in January and the junior retreat for mid-March.
The faculty tries to schedule retreats for itself twice during
the school year. In recent years, the faculty has used Blue Lagoon
Resort for a day of recollection in the first semester and has
tried to go off island in the second semester.
Porch Prayer: Each Tuesday at 6:00pm the faculty
gathers on the porch off the faculty dining room for a short period
of prayer lead by one of the faculty. A sheet is made available
for each member of the faculty to sign-up to lead the prayer a
couple of times during the semester. All members of the faculty
are asked not to schedule other activities during this time and
to make every effort to be present for Porch Prayer. Inevitable
conflicts arise during the school year, especially with games
and meetings downtown, and these are taken into account. The prayer
is followed by “a news of the week” where each person
has a chance to update everyone else on recent happenings or make
announcements that need to be made.
Reconciliation Services: During Advent and Lent,
a reconciliation service is scheduled for the school community.
All staff and students are expected to participate. (In addition,
opportunity for individual confession is available at any time
during the year by seeing one of the priests on campus or at one
of the parishes downtown.)
Other Activities: There may be other groups
or activities functioning in any given year. Religious expression
and spiritual development can take many forms and is encouraged.
