What Is Happening at Notre Dame School in March
and April?
Spring is on its way! With the beginning of Lent, spring seems to have come to Colorado and with it the stirring of new life. Many of the activities taking place during this time of year at Notre Dame Church and School reflect the renewal of life that we feel as a community.
Lent is the time of year the Catholic Church prepares for Easter. At Notre Dame Church, families are invited throughout the Lenten season to participate in the many services and activities offered through the church. Each week there is a soup supper followed by Vespers and Stations of the Cross are said with an Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. There are also Penance Services and a Parish Fish Fry. Palm Sunday arrives with distribution of palms at all the masses. Also during Lent, the Notre Dame Church Youth Group presents a Living Stations of the Cross. These are only a few of the services and activities that the community may attend. The Lent and Holy week schedule states, “For most Catholics their parish Church is the single most important part of their spiritual lives. For it is here, in the parish Church, that we express our faith in God and share in the journey of faith with one another, Christ’s mission continues here. The parish becomes stronger; our faith becomes stronger, when all the members of the Church participate in our prayer and worship, in our programs and activities.” Notre Dame Church, with its offerings of services and activities to its community certainly gives this opportunity to its members. Please see the parish website at www.notredameparishdenver.org to view the Lenten and Easter schedule.
In anticipation of Easter, Notre Dame’s students, staff and faculty participate in services and activities at school, in addition to participating in parish activities. Religion classes focus on the meaning of Lent and Easter and students in second through eighth grade attend Reconciliation. Holy Thursday finds students arriving at school for a morning of retreat before a noon dismissal. At 9:00 a.m., all students in kindergarten through eighth grade meet in the church for a presentation of the Tableau by the eighth grade. After the Tableau, fifth and sixth graders gather in the gym for a Seder Meal while the rest of the students do activities in their classrooms. Just before dismissal, everyone again meets in the church for a closing prayer service before going home to continue their preparation for Easter.
For those of you not familiar with the Tableau, it is a scripture re-enactment of the Last Supper when Jesus tells his disciples that he is the body and blood. It is a very moving service for all who attend and is a wonderful beginning to the long Easter Vigil.
A Seder Meal celebrates the Jewish holiday of Passover. At the meal, students remember through scripture the story of the Passover. They then partake of a meal of bitter herbs, lamb and unleavened bread, just as the Jews did in the time of Moses; just as Jesus did at the Last Supper.
Although the months of March and April center on the Lenten season and Easter, other activities also take place in school during this time. One of these activities is the annual invitation to fifth graders throughout the Denver Archdiocese from Archbishop Chaput to attend his mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. In his homily he talks to students about considering the possibility of a religious vocation. Notre Dame School has had three former students who have heard the call to a religious life; two are priests and one a novice.
Did you know that March 2nd is Dr. Suess’ birthday and the start of Read Aloud Month? Students from preschool through eighth grade celebrate Suess’ birthday and the whole month is filled with activities emphasizing the importance of reading. A number of teachers have been seen celebrating Dr. Suess’ birthday by wearing their “Cat In the Hat” clothing and hats!
And who can forget St. Patrick’s Day? Not Notre Dame School! We have the Wick Irish Dancers come and perform for us.
The Week of the Young Child, the Catholic Cultural Arts Show and Notre Dame’s Spring Concert all take place during April. The Early Leaning Center recognizes the value of its young children through the many activities they have during the Week of the Young Child. The Catholic Cultural Arts Show displays artwork of students through high school who attend a Catholic school within the Denver area. Many of Notre Dame’s students’ artwork is included in the show. Notre Dame’s Spring Concert is presented by students in 1st, 3rd and 5th grades. You can find information and dates regarding these activities on the website calendar.
The “What Is Happening at Notre Dame School in March and April?” gives you only a brief overview of the many activities and educational opportunities taking place in the Notre Dame community. Please take a few moments to explore both the Notre Dame School website and the Parish website for additional information.
