Prayer & Worship
Together we seek the strength of the Spirit to deepen and to guide our faith through daily prayer, liturgies, and prayer services. Training for liturgical ministries is offered during the school year. All members of
the Fontbonne Academy community serve in a variety of ministries to enrich our liturgies and prayer services as music ministers, lectors, homilists,
altar servers, extraordinary ministers of communion and liturgical dancers.
Students interested in being a liturgical minister or parents with questions about prayer and worship at Fontbonne Academy should speak with Ms. Sarte in the Office of Mission & Ministry.
Music Ministry
Music ministry is provided throughout the year by Fontbonne Academy’s talented student groups. Select Chorus leads the community in song at liturgies, and the Gospel Choir at prayer services. Students who do not belong to either of these choirs or who play an instrument and would like to participate as a music minister should inform the Office of Mission & Ministry at least a month in advance of a liturgy or prayer service. Students may also be asked to be a music minister.
Lectors
Students from all grades and all faith traditions read prayers, scripture and spiritual readings at the different liturgies and prayer services. Students are given the reading and rehearse on the microphone after school in the auditorium the day before the liturgy or prayer service. If you are interested in being a lector, please inform the Office of Mission & Ministry at least a month in advance of a liturgy or prayer service. Our lectors celebrate the diversity at Fontbonne Academy.
Homilists
At certain times during the academic year, a member of the senior class may be asked by the Office of Mission & Ministry to prepare the reflection for a particular liturgy or prayer service. Working with the Office of Mission & Ministry and with the Theology Department, the student is able to share her faith with the Fontbonne Academy community. Students have spoken at the Immaculate Conception Liturgy, the Ascension Thursday Liturgy, the Ash Wednesday Prayer Service, the Holy Thursday Prayer Service, and the Closing Prayer Service. This ministry is bestowed upon a senior who exhibits the unique ability to speak with authenticity; connecting scripture with faith, personal experience and spirituality.
Altar Servers
Altar servers at Fontbonne Academy have served for many years in their parish or have no experience in this ministry. Students interested in altar serving should inform the Office of Mission & Ministry in September. Students who have never served attend training sessions offered by the Office of Mission & Ministry and minister with an experienced altar server at their first liturgy. Older students pass on the tradition to younger classmates. Only altar servers from the junior class may minister at the Baccalaureate Liturgy.
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion
Students who are practicing Catholics and have received all three sacraments of initiation, may choose to become extraordinary ministers of communion, also known as, Eucharistic Ministers. They attend three training sessions offered by the Office of Mission & Ministry in the fall and in the spring. Students are commissioned into this special ministry at the Catholic Schools Week Liturgy and at the Ascension Thursday Liturgy. Student Eucharistic ministers minister at different liturgies throughout the year.