SPIRITUAL LIFE
ASH WEDNESDAY
On Ash Wednesday we have Mass for the Senior School, Junior School and a service for the Pre-Grade. This Mass marks the beginning of the season of Lent which spans 40 weekdays beginning on Ash Wednesday and climaxing during Holy Week with Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Good Friday, and concluding Saturday before Easter. Lent is marked by a time of prayer and preparation to celebrate Easter.
BLANKET MASS
The Blanket Mass is celebrated on Ascension Thursday which occurs 40 days after Christ rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. On this day, the risen Christ, in the sight of His apostles, ascended bodily into Heaven (Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9-11). At this Mass we display all the blankets collected by the whole school. These blankets are then distributed to the poor.
CLASS MASSES / SERVICES
Class Masses are planned during the year. It is an occasion for a grade to experience Mass in a more personal way. Local priests are invited to celebrate these Masses which are prepared by the relevant grades.
On occasions a Prayer Service will be held, for example at the Grade 8 Orientation Day and whenever a class or grade feels the need for one.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Each School Day begins with prayer. In the Senior School the Gospel of the day is read with a short commentary followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be to the Father. In the Junior School and Pre-grade these prayers are adapted in order to make them age appropriate.
Each Monday the Staff meet together in the School Chapel for a prayer service.
GRADE 11 VISIT TO THE CATHEDRAL
Each year in May the Grade 11’s from all the Catholic Schools in the Greater Johannesburg region meet together to celebrate Mass at the Cathedral. The purpose of the gathering is to motivate the Grade 11’s in their leadership roles.
RETREATS
Every class from Grade 1 to Matric have a retreat day each year. This is a day set aside for spending time with God and to learn, in a special way, more about their relationship with Him.
In the high school Grade 9 to 12 retreats are held in early January, Grade 8 in March and the Junior School in June.
SCHOOL CHAPEL
Our beautiful School Chapel is always open for anyone who wishes to pray there. We also have our Class Masses in the Chapel.
FINAL MATRIC MASS WITH THE SCHOOL
This Mass is held on the Feast of the Archangels, at which the whole school – Pre-Grade to Matric attend. On this occasion the Grade 1’s and matric girls process in together emphasizing the journey that the matrics have completed and which the Grade 1’s have just begun.
VALEDICTORY MASS
On the Matrics’ last day at school before they start writing their Matric Exams they are invited, with their parents, to the Valedictory Mass. On this much anticipated day the Matrics look back at their spiritual journey while at St Dominic’s. At the same time they are encouraged to move forward on their life’s journey using the spiritual values learned at school. At the end of Mass all the learners salute the Matrics by forming a guard of honour while the school bells are rung.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION LESSONS
RE forms an integral part of our curriculum. These lessons which all learners attend are both formal and informal. In the primary school the Lifebound programme is followed. In the high school the CORD curriculum is used. RE is assessed according to specific outcomes.
