Louisville High School Faith

Louisville is committed to developing faith-filled and morally aware individuals who are of service to their Church and school, to the community, and to others. By participating in Louisville’s Retreat and Community Service programs, each student has the opportunity not only to enrich her own life by giving back but to enrich the lives of others by volunteering in a variety of ways.

Liturgies

Campus Ministry provides inspiration and opportunity for faith development to the entire school community. The student-led program includes retreats for all grade levels, morning prayers, and regular celebrations of the liturgy. Students from all classes participate as Lectors, Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Liturgical Dancers, Cantors, and Music Ministers. The following are some of our favorite celebrations:

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BACCALAUREATE MASS

On the evening before graduation graduates and their families gather on the senior lawn for a sunset Mass. Seniors reflect on their four years as a Louisville student, and treasure this special evening together. A reception follows in St. Louis Hall.
CLASS MASSES

Each class celebrates Mass together on campus as a special time to reflect and bond. This smaller gathering gives students more opportunities to participate.
GRANDPARENTS LITURGY

Every year our students invite their grandparents to celebrate the Mass with us at Louisville. A recent tradition that has developed -- an informal picnic lunch complete with free PIE!
HERITAGE LITURGY

Louisville celebrates its Irish heritage - the homeland of the Sisters of St. Louis who came to California and founded Louisville High School. Traditional Irish dancers help to bless our sacred space with their graceful art.
SPRING MASS AND PICNIC

Our annual Mass and Picnic in May also includes an induction of seniors into the Louisville Alumnae Association. Mothers and grandmothers join us for Mass, followed by a picnic lunch on the student class lawns.

Retreats

The Retreat Program at Louisville is student-directed under the guidance of the Campus Minister and faculty members. Student leaders are trained in preparation for each retreat experience. Each class retreat is designed to guide students through the growth and challenges of that particular year.

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Freshman Retreat - Sanctuary

The freshman class is invited to two retreat experiences on campus in the fall and again at the beginning of the second semester. Students receive an explanation of the sanctuary that they will discover while they are here at Louisville.
Sophomore Retreat - Choices

The sophomore retreats are one-day retreats held off campus. Celebrating life's choices, the retreats are a time of exploration of the choices made throughout our lives. They allow for small group discussion, personal reflection and communal prayer.
Junior Retreat - Encounter

Encounter is a two-and-a-half day retreat held off campus. This retreat is based upon the Gospel of Emmaus. Those who choose to make this retreat enjoy opportunities to develop their prayer lives, engage in spiritual dialog, discuss issues that are pertinent to their personal struggles as well as growth in faith, hope and love.
Senior Retreat - Kairos

The senior retreat is Kairos, which means “The Lord’s Time.” This retreat enables candidates to focus on their relationship with God, with themselves, and with family and friends. It fosters the value of Christian life as the candidates work to build a true faith community over three-and-a-half days.

Service

Our community and environmental service program connects Louisville students to the mission of the school which invites the entire community "to bring Christ to all and all to Christ." By encouraging commitment to lifelong service, Louisville students are inspired to become leaders and volunteers who will tackle problems of poverty and environmental issues.

Students are encouraged to go beyond the school-sponsored service. They continue to volunteer in their church communities, visit the elderly and serve in a variety of other venues.

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Freshmen: School Service (10 hours)

Each freshman joins her classmates to volunteer time at Louisville. Students have the chance to make friends, give service to her school, and make her more aware of the valuable gift of her time.
Sophomores: Environmental Stewardship (15 hours)

Sophomore service trips focus on care of our environment and take place at local watershed and beach cleanups, tree planting and restoration of public space.
Juniors: Witness to Justice (30 hours)

Junior service trips focus on issues of justice and poverty, particularly within the city and downtown neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Food banks and shelters benefit from the many hours our students give preparing food, clothing and other necessities.
Seniors: Change the World Locally (35 hours)

Senior service opportunities focus on helping local schools and organizations committed to alleviating poverty at many levels.

“I feel an obligation to improve the lives of others in some way, if I can, and to be an instrument of change.”

Seneca Zamora ’06, AmeriCorps and Peace First

Grandparents Liturgy
The Grandparents Liturgy is one of our favorite liturgies. On the day before Spring Break began, our campus hosted grandparents from near and far to celebrate Mass with our community and Father McNamara.
Living Our Faith
Louisville received a gift last year to encourage our students’ involvement in a study of religious life both in the United States and in the international community of the Sisters of St Louis. Little did we know how deeply the research done by our Juniors and Seniors, especially, would impact their appreciation for the role women religious play in our world.
Campus Ministry & Service
For the 2021-22 school year, the students have asked for more opportunities to serve the community outside of campus. The opportunities are plentiful to give back and assist, and all classes have heeded the call.

And...Retreats are back!
In yet another signal of school life returning to normal, we were able to reinstate class retreats, both on and off campus, this year.
Aida’s Education Rocks (WITS) Experience
To participate in Education Rocks’ Walk in their Shoes (WITS) program, you have to apply and be accepted. From schools all over the country, our WITS group this year consisted of nine (including me) students.
Advent Reconciliation Service
In recent years, the religion department and campus ministry have worked to expand our sacramental participation among the student body by creating a school-wide Reconciliation Service during the seasons of Advent and Lent...