How We Incorporate Faith

Faith at the Heart of Every Day

You’re choosing Catholic school for a reason. Maybe it’s because you want to reinforce the values you’re teaching your children at home, in a place that doesn’t shy away from talking about God. Maybe you’re not even sure yet, but you think something might be missing in your current school setting.

At St. Bernadette, faith is the foundation of everything else. Classrooms pray together every day and attend Mass together twice a week. Students love their monthly Adoration time to deepen their personal relationship with Christ. When it’s time to celebrate sacraments like First Communion and Confirmation, we help prepare each child for the occasion, alongside friends they’ve known since preschool. Faith formation at St. Bernadette is not limited to the time spent reading a Religion class text book.

School Theme

Each year St. Bernadette incorporates a faith-based theme.
It is beautiful how God reveals what our focus should be for the school year!

2025-2026 School Theme:
Let your Hallelujahs Get Loud!

A Note from Our Pastor

Dear families,

Welcome to St. Bernadette! One of the greatest joys of being a pastor is watching children grow – not just academically, but into who they’re becoming, as God has called them to be. Every time I visit the school, it’s clear to me how this community has been thoughtfully built over time into a place where people pray for each other by name and care for each other in meaningful ways. I’m deeply grateful to be a part of SBS!

If you’re exploring St. Bernadette for your family, I want you to know that you are welcome here. Whether you’ve been a Catholic your whole life or you’re just beginning to ask questions, there is a place for you and your children in this community. I look forward to meeting you!

God bless your and your family,
Fr. Ben Boyd
Pastor, St. Bernadette and Holy Ghost Parishes

Faith Activities at SBS

  • All-School Rosaries

    Throughout the school year, 8th graders lead our community in praying the Rosary. Some of our favorite days include: Tiger Trot Rosary, Patriotic Rosary, Outdoor Rosary in the Grotto and Last Day of School Rosary.

  • First Friday Adoration

    We have incorporated monthly Adoration time for our students and staff. Each grade spends 50 minutes with Jesus. During this special time, students journal, sing, pray Lectio Divina and sit in silence with Jesus. Our students have many wonderful comments about their experiences during Adoration. One student said that he felt like there was a white light all around him, that the world had stopped and he felt peaceful with Jesus.

    Another student said that they felt invited by Jesus to come forward and kneel in front of the Monstrance. She was worried about what her friends might think. She decided that being with Jesus was what she wanted to do so she came forward despite her concern about what her friends might think.

  • Special Vocations Program

    For more than 13 years, our school has taken a special interest in supporting seminarians of the Archdiocese of Omaha. Led by Mrs. Fanciullo, SBS music and art teacher, our community prays intentions for all seminarians. Students also correspond with the seminarians, and they love to hear from the men they pray for every day! Our students also signed a pledge card and pray to be open to the special vocation God has in mind for them.

  • Service Projects

    Serving others is a key part of our faith. Throughout the school year, students and parents are invited to participate in community service opportunities, including in-person volunteers as well as collecting funds and material goods for local organizations like the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Mater Filius of Nebraska and more.

  • Prayer Tree

    Another way we unify the members of our school family is by both employing and witnessing the transformative power of prayer through our Prayer Tree. Students and teachers are invited to write a petition on a paper leaf, apple, dove or butterfly and place it on or near one of five trees that span twenty feet wide, six feet high on a bulletin board in the office hallway. Each art and music class begins with a Glory Be for “all the prayers on the trees.”

    Parents share that they’ve added this petition to their family and personal prayers at home. When a prayer is answered, the petitioner removes it from the board. Student “gardeners” volunteer to maintain the trees, cut out more leaves, etc. What started as a four-foot square bulletin board six years ago has expanded to a treasured tradition and a knowledge that God not only answers our prayers but also loves to bless His children in abundance.

School Tradition Spotlight:

Las Posadas

Many Hispanic Catholics observe a musical religious custom called Las Posadas, (meaning “shelter” or “lodging”), which commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus.  Our third graders learn the Posadas song and about this custom in music class. Then, students parade through some classrooms with the first graders, asking to enter but being turned away, just like the Holy Family. They were then welcomed by the Junior High Choir in the Social Hall to enjoy some treats, including Mexican Conchas pastries.

Thank you!

Thank you to the pastors and parishioners at St. Bernadette for their support!

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