Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

October 4 is the feast day of St. Francis at which we hold our traditional The Blessing of Pets at which our Pastor, Father Mark Stetz, blesses the children’s dogs, cats, reptiles, hamsters, rabbits and birds saying:“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”

Merging of History, Faith, and Mission

Holy Cross School has evolved under the guidance of three religious orders: The Christian Brothers – whose mission is religious education; The Daughters of Charity – whose mission is loving service to the poor; and The Adrian Dominicans – whose mission is the search for truth. Through class level lessons on Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, students learn who God is and how God cares about each of the students and all of creation.

Elements of faith are integrated into the learning process:

• Curriculum-Religion Class Textbooks

Loyola Press6-8
Sadlier K-5
Pflaum Preschool

• Study of Saints on feast days
• Essay contests for upper grades-Maryknoll, Serra Club Vocations 

Grade Level Curriculum Expectations