SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES & SACRAMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES
Our faith is the center of all that we do, and basis for who we are at OLGC School. In order to fulfill our mission and vision we provide our children with a multitude of opportunities to have a life-changing encounter with the person of Jesus Christ.
The students of Our Lady of Good Counsel participate in a multitude of spiritual activities throughout the week. We are glad to offer our students:
CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is designed to deepen the child’s existing relationship with God, encourage formation of a personal prayer life, enable fuller participation in liturgical and sacramental life of the Church, and develop a deeper understanding of Catholic identity and tradition.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION IN SCHOOL CHAPEL
On select days of the month, students are encouraged to seek Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Praise and Worship is also included.
LITURGIES
Students have the opportunity to worship at Mass in the school chapel and attend weekly liturgies at OLGC School. All parishioners and families are highly encouraged to attend the all-school Mass and hear the spirit of our youth (held once a month at OLGC Church). There are also regular opportunities for the sacrament of Reconciliation (grades 3-8).
CAMPUS MINISTER, WORSHIP LEADER, & MUSIC TEACHER
Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish School is blessed to staff both a campus minister/worship leader and a music teacher to aid our students in growing and cultivating their relationships with Jesus.
PARENT & STUDENT RETREATS
Parents (all grades) and students (8th grade only) attend separate overnight retreats at OLGC Church, encouraging others in support of one another’s faith and solidarity as brothers and sisters in Christ. Retreats for boys are held on opposite weekends of the girls’ retreats. Moms also go on a separate retreat from the Dads.
SERVING OTHERS – LIVING THE FAITH
Our students expand their spirituality through acts of service to the community. Some of these include PB& J Ministry support, Pro Life outreach, visitations with the elderly, and more. In all of these cases, our students are directed to see the face of Jesus through service.
ALPHA YOUTH
Alpha is a series of interactive sessions exploring the Christian faith, and it is a great way to help young people engage with the big questions about the faith. Alpha is run all around the globe in various contexts, and is designed for young people with no Christian or church background. Alpha Youth is one such context and is designed for young people in 7th and 8th grade.
PRAISE & WORSHIP and PRAYER MINISTRY
With our Worship Leader, Clare McMillan, students weekly encounter and experience the power of the Holy Spirit through Praise & Worship. We also have a team of parish members who pray over the students with expectant faith for you and your family.
BLAZE MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS MINISTRY
Blaze ministry offers resources to help you reach the hearts of middle school girls with the love of Christ and the truths of our Catholic faith. Two years of curriculum, a kit full of take home gifts and icebreakers, a mother/daughter devotional, retreat guides, Bible studies and prayer journals give you all you need to communicate with middle school girls as they navigate truth and lies in their everyday life.
ENCOUNTER & SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON GRADE LEVEL
- Praise and Worship led by the Music Minister with Adoration and Prayer Team present to pray over students
- Pre-K helpers
- Weekly chapel lessons
- Praise and Worship lunch/recess
- Student Lectors
- Overnight retreat opportunities (Gr. 8)
- Crusaders for Life group
- Participants in Annual March for Life trip to Washington, D.C.
- Alpha Youth opportunity
- Altar servers
- Blessed Solanus Casey Pilgrimage (Gr.7)
- Uganda pen pals (Gr.7)
- Day of Vocations (Gr.7)
- Leads Stations of the Cross for all students (Gr.7)
- Care bags for the homeless (Gr.7)
- Al’s seniors’ lunch (Gr.7)
- Pen pal program with Lincoln park third graders (Gr.8)
- Recycling program (Gr.8)
- Blaze Bible study (Gr.8 girls)
- Uganda pen pals (Gr.7)
- Sacrament of Confirmation preparation
- Retreat
- Family meeting
- Quarterly lessons of faith with Father John (Church History and Kerygma)
- Uses Chosen series
- Delivers gifts to needy families in Detroit
- Writes Armed forces
- Plans and hosts All Saints festival for younger students
- Altar servers
- Students participate in Bible presentation ceremony and receive their own Bible
- Snacking with the Saints
- Camp with prayer services and outdoor mass
- Altar servers
- Altar servers
- Divine Mercy Chaplet leaders after division masses
- Praise and Worship
- Divine Mercy Chaplet leaders after division masses
- Praise and Worship lunch/recess group
- Teachers and students volunteer at Forgotten Harvest
- Various service projects at class parties
- Sacrament of Reconciliation preparation
- Retreat
- Family Meetings
- First Holy Communion preparation
- Retreat
- Family Meetings
- Make treat bags with uplifting spiritual messages for the homeless – PBJ ministry
- Make placements with uplifting messages for nearby nursing home
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Retreat
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Partner with Divine Child Student Council to create Christmas stockings and Easter cards for a senior living home
- Various service projects at class parties
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Advent prayer houses
- Holy Week signs and Symbolism Stations and Presentations
- Parade of Saints
- Blessed Mother birthday party
- Valentine/St. Patrick activities
- Advent party