Catholic Identity
Protectors of our Faith
We are a community who cherishes and protects the faith which has been passed down to us. We strive to learn & grow in our faith each day, making it a part of who we are and everything we do. We learn not only about the world but also about Christ, who is at work in our hearts and in our families. We strive to educate our students for a successful life and career, but we also work to equip them with the tools and support they need to grow deeper in their faith. We enable our students to have a personal relationship with God, to become stronger Christian witnesses, and to spread the Gospel message to the world.
Our Mascot
Guardians
Our mascot, the guardian, symbolizes how we are guardians of our faith, protecting it with our words, prayers, and actions. The guardian lifts the cross proudly against a wind blowing the plumes of its helmet. Our students are taught to guard their faith in their hearts against the winds of temptation and sin, sustaining it by prayer and the sacraments. Our guardians must be brave, countercultural to many of society’s temptations, and discerning to what will serve God.
Our Crest
We know that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, and so our crest displays the shield of the guardian, with the body of Christ at its center. The key words of our mission surround the shield below: faith, knowledge, and service. These three pillars guide our journeys as faithful followers of Christ.
Faith
- School Mass twice a week with student lectors, altar servers, and choir members.
- Adoration once a month
- Reconciliation each week
- Prayer to begin and end each day
- Monthly all-school prayer service, organized and led each month by a different class
- Preparation for sacraments
- Annual retreat for 2nd grade
- Annual retreat for 8th grade
- Annual retreat for teachers
Knowledge
- Religion Curriculum: Alive in Christ series from Our Sunday Visitor. This curriculum is comprehensive and approved by the diocese.
- Patron Saints: Each classroom has selected two patron saints: one male and one female. Their pictures are displayed and students learn about the lives of their patron saints each year.
- Mary: Each classroom has a depiction of Mary, the Mother of God, as a reminder for students to ask for her intercession at school.
- Christ: Each classroom displays a Crucifix, encouraging students and staff to draw close to Jesus in prayer at school and remember his unconditional love for each of us.
Service
- SVS students imitate St. Vincent de Paul through service within our school and in the community and by studying the corporal works of mercy.
- Charity: Students participate in fundraisers for worthwhile charitable organizations, such as the Women's Care Center. Each grade “adopts” an organization to serve and pray for each year.
- All students K-8th grade are required to complete community service hours.
- Young Vincentians: This service group of 4th-8th grade students gathers to volunteer, pray, and serve in conjunction with the St. Vincent de Paul Society to increase awareness of the plight of the poor and the underprivileged of Elkhart.