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Student Life

Spiritual Life

Christ enables us to live in him all that he himself lived, and he lives it in us. “By his Incarnation, he, the Son of God, has in a certain way united himself with each man.” We are called only to become one with him, for he enables us as the members of his Body to share in what he lived for us in his flesh as our model: 

We must continue to accomplish in ourselves the stages of Jesus’ life and his mysteries and often to beg him to perfect and realize them in us and in his whole Church. . . For it is the plan of the Son of God to make us and the whole Church partake in his mysteries and to extend them to and continue them in us and in his whole Church. This is his plan for fulfilling his mysteries in us.

– Catechism of the Catholic Church 521

St. Ambrose Academy aims to form both the mind and the heart of each student. We want to form students who know their faith and desire to live as faithful followers of Jesus Christ. 

Because each person has a different path on which to follow Christ, St. Ambrose tries to provide a variety of opportunities for religious formation. These include daily Mass, conversations with the Bishop, Bible studies, the Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharistic adoration, service day, altar serving, sacristan work, and yearly retreats.

Mass at St. Ambrose

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered at St. Ambrose two or three times a week thanks to the generosity of priests of the Diocese of Madison. Students are encouraged to become involved with the community’s celebration of the Mass through a variety of ways: 

Sacristan Work

Female students directly prepare for Mass by caring for altar linens, setting out the articles of the altar, arranging bouquets of flowers, steaming vestments, and any other necessary tasks.  

Altar Serving

Male students serve at the altar for Mass. Older students teach younger students how to serve at the altar. These gentlemen also assist with Eucharistic adoration and benediction.   

Reading and Singing at Mass

Students are invited to proclaim the first reading and responsorial psalm during Mass. Students often write and read the general intercessions prayed during the Mass. Student cantors add beauty to the Mass.

Retreats & Pilgrimages

Retreat Team

Interested juniors and seniors participate in a retreat team, which plans and directs retreats for younger St. Ambrose students.  

Annual Retreat

Each class has an annual retreat. Additionally, juniors and seniors go on the March for Life pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. every other year.  

Pilgrimages

A pilgrimage for Junior High students and one for Senior High students takes place each year.

Liturgical Living

The liturgy is the heart of the Christian life. St. Ambrose Academy promotes liturgical living in a number of ways. These include changing the prayer cloth, having Holy Days of Obligation off from school so that families can rejoice in these days together, celebrating Solemnities with treats at lunch, and other opportunities as they arise.

One recent example from the past year: celebrating All Saints’ Day with costumes of favorite saints and extra treats to celebrate this Holy Day! Check out a recap of the fantastic costumes some of our students wore!

Other Spiritual Opportunities

Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays: students have the opportunity to sign up for a 10-15 minute adoration slot for personal time with our Eucharistic Lord.

Liturgy of the Hours: periodically students pray the Liturgy of the Hours in religion class and in the Oratory by themselves or in small groups.

Daily Chaplet of Divine Mercy: the school day ends with a communal recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Lectio Divina: opportunities for this sacred reading of Scripture occur both in class and at the beginning of the day.

Bible studies: offered in keeping with student interest.

Beloved: Beloved prayer groups are small groups for high school girls that provide a place for young women to grow in their faith together through understanding their identity as a beloved daughter of the Father. These small groups offer an opportunity for students to ask difficult questions and talk about difficult topics. We pray together, study Scripture together, and come to know what it means to be a Daughter of the King together. These small groups meet biweekly during advisory times on Mondays and Thursdays and are led by Penina Boros, a young adult in the area.

Order of St. Jerome: Small-group Bible studies for senior high boys to pray with Scripture in community with other young men.

Service Day: click here to see photos and read more about our school-wide Service Days.

Nun Runs: female students are invited and encouraged to attend the biannual diocesan nun run during which students visit convents and monasteries to speak, work, and pray with the Sisters.

 

Fr. Jared Holzhuter, Chaplain


Dr. Geoffrey Ludvik, Director of Student Ministries