Worship Opportunities

Coming together as a community to pray and worship God is a foundation of Benilde-St. Margaret’s Catholic mission.  There are many liturgical experiences for our students, faculty, staff, and parents to nurture their spiritual journey and Catholic faith.

• All School Liturgies
• Class Masses
• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
• Faculty/Staff Prayer
• Rosary
• Eucharistic Ministry
• Labyrinth
• Liturgical Choir

 


All School Liturgies
All-school Masses are held at least once a month in our Great Hall.  Masses are planned and lead by students through a variety of ministries including: lectoring, serving, processional, Eucharistic minister, and in the choir.  Our liturgical music program is unparalleled having produced two CDs and one DVD with GIA Productions, a national recording company.  Occasionally, students are trained in liturgical dance to enhance the liturgical prayer. 

Liturgical Schedule for 2011-2012

Liturgical Ministries Student Sign-up Form

Understanding Liturgy

Liturgy Student Dress Code

Class Masses
In addition to the all-school liturgies, each grade level celebrates mass in the Our Lady of Peace Chapel.  Special time and attention is given for students to prepare for a more intimate liturgical experience.  Typically, these masses are scheduled around another significant event for their grade, like their class retreat, to strengthen their class unity that is anchored in faith

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Appreciating the silence and profound presence of God, this unique and sacred prayer is offered for students on Holy Thursday. In addition, our parent association supports BSM students by offering Adoration during student finals each semester.

Faculty/Staff Prayer
On Wednesday morning before school begins, those who work at BSM have an opportunity to pray and worship together.
 
Rosary
On Friday morning before school begins, students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to prayer the Rosary in the Our Lady of Peace Chapel.

Eucharistic Ministry
In an early document concerning the Eucharist, the late Archbishop John Roach wrote “The Church is never more truly itself than when it gathers to celebrate the Eucharist.” We at Benilde-St. Margaret’s hold true to this teaching, knowing that the Eucharist is the center of the entire life of the Church – we become a sign of the love and unity of Christ’s Body.

Liturgy truly is the work of the people, calling for active participation through various roles such as lector, cantor, assembly and Eucharistic Minister. The latter of these roles – Eucharistic Minister – is a special lay ministry commissioned by the Church through the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. This ministry is designed to assist with the distribution of the Eucharist at our school liturgies or school related liturgies. Approximately 30 students and 30 faculty and staff members are trained to serve as Eucharistic Ministers, and they are publicly commissioned at our Homecoming Liturgy. In addition to those adults who serve in this way, the ministry is also open to members of the senior class who are baptized and confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church, who are active in parish life, who hold a sincere belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and who live a life reflecting the Christian faith. The Eucharistic Minister is truly a witness of Christ, presenting Him in a very real way to others in the Community.

Labyrinth
A walking mediation is available for students, faculty and staff three times through the school year, once during Advent, Lent and once during the month of May.  A 36’ canvas, eleven-circuit Chartres Cathedral style labyrinth is brought into the Great Hall.  A quiet environment with meditative music surrounds walkers as they slow down to pray and mediate amidst their busy days.

Liturgical Choir
Our liturgical music program is unparalleled having produced two CDs and one DVD with GIA Productions, a national recording company. These 9th-12th grade musicians lead music ministry for school liturgies and wider community liturgies. They rehearse during two sections of choir and before and after school prior to liturgies.  The students who are involved with the liturgical choir possess an interest in music ministry, cantor skills, and leadership of the assembly. There is no audition required, and all musicians--instrumental and vocal--are invited to join.