Faith Education

You do not need to be Catholic or baptized to attend. Catholic schools in Alberta welcome all students, space permitting.

In our schools, students learn:

• To treat one another with kindness, dignity, and respect
• That every person is equal and valued
• That their words and actions can positively impact others

Faith is not only taught—it is lived through how we care for one another each day.

Prayer is an important part of building a relationship with God.

Students will experience:

• Daily prayer (morning, before meals, end of day)
• Opportunities to lead prayer
• Learning traditional prayers such as the Our Father and Hail Mary
• Moments of reflection and prayer during times of need

Students are always invited and encouraged to participate in prayer, but never forced.

All subjects are taught from a Catholic perspective. This means students are encouraged to explore connections between faith and learning:

• Science: discovering the beauty and order of God’s creation
• Language Arts: reflecting on themes of virtue, morality, and human dignity
• Social Studies: examining history through the lens of justice and Catholic social teaching
• Fine Arts: celebrating faith through music, art, and expression

We believe faith and reason work together to deepen understanding.

Students participate in religion classes each year:

• Grades 1–6: Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ
• Grades 7–9: Program from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
• High School: Go and Make Disciples: Living the Great Commission
• Optional: World Religions courses in some high schools

Students also learn about other world religions and Indigenous spirituality, fostering understanding and respect.

Living our faith means serving others.

Students participate in a variety of social justice initiatives, supporting both local and global communities. These may include partnerships with organizations such as:

• Catholic Social Services
• Development and Peace – Caritas Canada
• Chalice

Through these experiences, students learn the importance of compassion, generosity, and working for the common good.

GrACE stands for Grateful Advocates for Catholic Education.  The goal of GrACE is to advocate for publicly funded Catholic education in the province of Alberta. Supported by the Alberta Bishops, Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association and Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta.  GrACE launched in November 2018 with representatives from sixteen Catholic school divisions across the province.

Archbishop Richard Smith introduces GrACE in this 2018 video: https://youtu.be/8CBQQSJykus

Our GrACE Committee

All Catholic school divisions in Alberta have been asked to form a GrACE Committee that advocates for Catholic education. Members of the Evergreen Catholic Schools GrACE committee include our local priests, trustees, senior administration, school administrators, teachers, staff, parents, parishioners and community members.  Stakeholders include families and parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish (Spruce Grove and Stony Plain), St. Mary of the Assumption (Westlock), Our Lady of the Foothills (Hinton) and St. Maria Goretti (Devon) as well as school division personnel.

GrACE invites all those committed to Catholic education to be witnesses to the faithfulness and success of our schools and to advocate for our schools in the present and in the future.

Our Mission

The mission of GrACE is to inspire, invigorate, and embolden the spirit of Catholic education in order to unite, engage, educate and communicate with one voice on its behalf.  GrACE is a partnership of stakeholders resolutely committed to Catholic education within the province of Alberta.

Our Why

The gift of publicly funded Catholic education in Alberta is a blessing.  As a community, we are called in gratitude, faith, and action to ensure that our children and future generations continue to learn and to grow in our Catholic schools.

Did you know?

• The first school in Alberta was a Catholic school at Lac Ste. Anne in 1842
• Alberta is one of three provinces in Canada with publicly funded Catholic education (Saskatchewan and Ontario are the other two).
• Catholic education affirms parents as their children's primary educators and respect the rights of parents to choose the school that best meets their needs.
• Catholic schools' deepest desire is to ensure that every child knows and experiences the love of God through the witness of their community.
• Principles of diversity and inclusion are central in the teachings of the Catholic Church and permeate all aspects and curriculum in a Catholic school.
• Catholic schools are committed to academic excellence.

How you can help?

In your homes, neighborhoods, schools and parishes, watch for and get involved with your local GrACE initiatives.  Help spread the word by sharing your stories of Catholic education.

Join the conversation

Use the hashtag #gottagracegroup to join the conversation.

GrACE Newsletters

GrACE Alberta - Resources