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Faith and Service

A Source of

FAITH AT AQUINAS

Service is an integral part of the student experience at Aquinas Catholic Schools. Younger grades, even preschool and 4K students, gain greater appreciation of community needs by collecting items to support community agencies. As students grow older, they become more involved in local efforts and extend their reach to support national and international causes.  Many schools sponsor a fellow student at Casa Hogar de Juan Pablo II, an orphanage in Peru.

Each year, middle school students collect over two tons of food each Thanksgiving season, filling an entire school bus and delivering the items to Wafer.

High school students serve community needs through the National Honor Society and IMPACT, a student-created and student-led service organization.  Students in IMPACT alone donate more than 4,000 hours of community service annually.

Students have the opportunity to pray and worship the Lord in many ways:

  • Student-led weekly Mass

  • Rosary Services

  • Stations of the Cross

  • Reconciliation

  • Grade level retreats

  • May Crowning

  • All School Mass - celebrated on the Feast Day of St. Thomas Aquinas

  • Commencement Mass

Integration of Religion

Students participate in daily prayer and religious instruction. The pastors and deacons of the La Crosse deanery participate in the faith life of the schools through the celebration of Mass and classroom visits. 

Second grade students receive preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. Fourth, Eighth, and Eleventh grade students participate in the annual Diocesan Faith Knowledge Assessment and score above the diocesan average. A priest is assigned as chaplain for the Aquinas Middle School and Aquinas High School and actively participates in the life of the school. The high school campus chapel is newly remodeled and open throughout the day for reflection and prayer as well as optional daily morning liturgies.
 

Aquinas High School is privileged to work with the diocesan houses of formation for young men and women. Over the last five years,14 Aquinas graduates have entered seminary or religious life.
 

By integrating the Catholic faith with quality learning experiences, Aquinas Catholic Schools assists students with developing skills for becoming responsible members of our school, faith, and civic communities.

Weekly Mass Schedule

Cathedral Elementary School


2:00pm every Wednesday
 

Blessed Sacrament Elementary School


9:00am every Wednesday
 

St. Patrick Elementary School


8:00am every Tuesday (Grades 3-6)
8:00am every Thursday (Grades 5K - 2)

 

Aquinas Middle School


10:00am every Tuesday


Aquinas High School

 

10:00am every Wednesday

 

The Aquinas High School chapel is open throughout the day for reflection and prayer as well as optional daily morning liturgies.


Reconciliation and First Holy Communion


Students in second grade receive preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.

Reconciliation is celebrated during the seasons of Advent and Lent. Aquinas Middle School and High School students may also receive the sacrament from the Chaplain upon request.

 

Special Masses

An All-School Mass is held for all students of Aquinas Catholic Schools on the Feast Day of St. Thomas Aquinas (January 28).
The Golden Mass is celebrated by the middle and high school students on the last day of school before Christmas
Graduation or Commencement Masses culminate school experiences.

Awards

"In My Name" Award
 

In the spring of 2011, Catholic Charities of La Crosse awarded IMPACT, Aquinas High School's student-led service organization with the "In My Name" Award. This annual award honors the individual and organization that have worked substantially to promote social justice and meet the needs of others in their community.

 

National Catholic High School Honor Roll
 

In 2008 and 2009, Aquinas High School was named one of the top 50 Catholic high schools in the nation. The Acton Institute awards this distinction to schools that best promote academic achievement, Catholic identity and civic education. 

Supporting Parishes

Aquinas Catholic Schools is fortunate to have thirteen parishes providing financial and spiritual support to our school system. Priests take an active role in shaping our students to be active Christians through our weekly and all-school Masses, and attend many of our school events. Collectively, they fund approximately 33% of the system revenue through parish donations. These supporting parishes are:
 

Blessed Sacrament

Rev. Billy Dodge
130 Losey Boulevard South
La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: (608) 782-2953
Fax: (608) 785-1064

Cathedral of St. Joseph, the Workman

Msgr. Richard Gilles 

530 Main St.
La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: (608) 782-0322
Fax: (608) 782-8228

Holy Trinity
Fr. Richard Roberts
1333 S. 13th St.
La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: (608) 782-2028

Mary, Mother of the Church
Fr. Brian Konopa
2006 Weston St.
La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: (608) 788-5483
Fax: (608) 788-4070

Roncalli Newman
Rev. Billy Dodge
1732 State St.
La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: (608) 784-4994
Fax: (608) 784-0230

St. Charles Borromeo
Rev. Daniel Sedlacek 
701 Walnut St.
Genoa, WI 54632
Phone: (608) 689-2646

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Fr. John Parr
515 N. Main St
Holmen, WI 54636
Phone: (608) 526-4424
Fax: (608) 526-3177

St. James the Less
Rev. James Weighner
1032 Caledonia St.
La Crosse, WI 54603
Phone: (608) 782-7557
Fax: (608) 796-0086

St. Joseph
Fr. Biju Chennala Kunjukutty
W2601 Hwy 33, RR1
La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: (608) 788-1646

St. Teresa of Kolkata
Rev. Zacharie Beya-Tshingimba
210 W. Hamlin
West Salem, WI 54669
Phone: (608) 786-0610
Fax: (608) 486-1305

 

St. Mary
Rev. Joe Richards
900 Central Ave.
Coon Valley, WI 54623
Phone: (608) 452-3841

St. Patrick
Msgr. Steven Kachel

Rev. Aaron Becker
1031 Main St.
Onalaska, WI 54650
Phone: (608) 783-5535

St. Peter (Middle Ridge)
Fr. Biju Chennala Kunjukutty
Box 101, W695 Hwy 33
Rockland, WI 54653
Phone: (608) 486-2180

Blessed Sacrament Parish Pic.jpg
St. Joseph The Workman Cathedral Picture.jpg
Holy Trinity Parish Pic.jpg
Mary, Mother of The Church Pic.jpg
Roncalli Newman Parish Pic.jpg
St. Charles Parish Picture.jpg
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.jpg
St. James The Less Parish Pic.jpg
St. Joseph Parish Picture.jpg
St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish Pic.jpg
St. Mary Parish Pic .jpg
St. Patrick Parish Picture.jpg
St. Peter Parish Picture.jpg
Integration of Religion
Weekly Mass Schedule
Awards
Supporting Parishes
Faith & Service
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