Father Joe(priest) raising his hand during Mass at St. John Vianney Catholic School with students listening

Mass

To enhance our Catholic teachings, the students from each grade level attend Mass one morning a week. The priest’s homily is customized to the level of students’ understanding. Once a month the students and staff of Saint John Vianney Catholic School come together to attend Mass as one community. Classes attend with their Big/Little Buddies to build community among the students. Each month a different grade level serves as hosts of the Mass. They learn how to prepare and participate with the monthly Mass, as Greeters, Liturgical Readers, Prayer Intention Readers, and Bearers of the Gifts.

Additionally each grade hosts one family mass per month during the school year, which takes place at the Sunday 10 AM Mass.

Daily Prayer

Each day the school assemble together to pray together. On Wednesdays, Student Council share over the PA System The Good News and prayers. Prayers are prayed in the classrooms before school, before snack recess, after recess, before lunch recess, after lunch recess, and prior to leaving for the day. Each school day at 11 AM there is a prayer bell. This is when we pray as a whole school community for our intentions.

Students serving as Alter Servers at Mass during a St. John Vianney school Mass.
Young boy leading Mass at St. John Vianney Catholic School.
Principal Victoria Hinkle leading prayer at a school wide St. John Vianney Mass.
Father Joe delivering a homily during Mass at St. John Vianney Catholic School in San Jose

Service at St. John Vianney Catholic School

At St. John Vianney Catholic School, students are encouraged to participate in community service and volunteer programs that make a real impact. During the summer, students volunteer at the Village House, helping to prepare and serve meals for people experiencing homelessness.

Throughout the school year, each grade level identifies community needs and organizes charity projects. Projects include making blankets for the children’s hospital, collecting pet supplies for the Humane Society, gathering pennies for leukemia patients, creating placemats and cards of encouragement for the homeless, and assembling blessing bags with toiletries for HomeFirst. Each December, students participate in a nine-day Novena, supporting a different nonprofit each day through donations, such as baby formula and diapers for homeless family shelters, canned food for Sacred Heart Food Center, or toys and books for children’s centers. At SJV, students live by the principle of “Deeds Not Words” through their kind and meaningful service.

Staff members also take part in community outreach by volunteering with local charities, including HomeFirst, Sacred Heart Food Center, Second Harvest Food Bank, American Heart Association, Leukemia Foundation, Rice Bowl, and Learning and Loving Education. By actively serving, staff lead by example, showing students the value of compassion, responsibility, and giving back to the community.