Student Life

Spiritual Life

Spiritual Life Through Knowledge of Scripture

The religious education program at Saint Gertrude High School has a two-fold purpose: to impart knowledge of Catholic doctrine and to foster an environment in which a person can mature in faith, realize her Christian identity, and formulate a value system based on a knowledge of her own self-worth and respect for others.

Making Moral Decisions

Through a knowledge of Scripture and a growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ each student will become more capable of developing a Christian conscience, making moral decisions, and living a life based on Gospel values.

She will be an active member of the Christian community, expressing her faith in weekly liturgical celebration, private prayer, and service to the needs of others. Through shared faith, the encouragement of her fellow students and faculty, and a study of the history of God’s people, she will enjoy the richness of humankind’s experience as revealed to her through these sources.

Prayer is an important part of the Saint Gertrude community. Whole-school prayer is led by students throughout the day. Liturgical seasons are observed with special programs. An annual day of retreat is provided for each class.

Mass

We celebrate Catholic Liturgies every Thursday in our Chapel. Each class elects a chaplain who works with the theology department to plan school Masses and lead prayer and chapel services. The grade level responsible for each school Mass rotates to ensure all students have an opportunity to serve, usher, or read. Saint Gertrude’s Honors Ensemble leads each school Mass in song. Additionally, once a quarter, Saint Gertrude has a joint Mass with Benedictine College Preparatory. The current school chaplain assigned by the Catholic Diocese is Father Dan Brady. In addition to our school chaplain Father Dan and the Benedictine Monks who reside on campus, we invite many area priests to celebrate Mass with us throughout the year.

Chapel

Every month, we hold Chapel services. Each grade level gathers in the Chapel to celebrate the Benedictine Liturgy of the Hours as the Benedictine Sisters have traditionally prayed them. These services are planned and led by student chaplains and feature a reflection by the chaplain.

Catholic Sacraments and Traditions

Opportunities to participate in Rosaries, Confessions, and Adoration are provided to students and faculty on campus regularly in coordination with Mary Mother of the Church Abbey.

In addition, an annual school-wide celebration of the Feast of Saint Gertrude is held, with the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia as our special guests. Seniors submit a reflection on how much the Benedictine values have impacted their lives while attending Saint Gertrude, and one senior is chosen to present her reflection to the entire school and to the Sisters at the conclusion of the prayer service.

Visit to Bristow

All students will have the opportunity to visit Saint Benedict Monastery in Bristow, Virginia, home of our founders, the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia. In a very special day planned by the sisters, students will have the opportunity to explore the grounds and pray with the sisters. They enjoy meeting the sisters who attended, taught, or even led Saint Gertrude all while discovering the beauty of the many traditions that we still continue today. During their visit, students also experience a small glimpse into the life of our Benedictine Sisters participating in prayer, service, and following a similar schedule to their daily life.

Retreats

We provide four retreats, one for each year. The themes include community building, Benedictine values, spirituality, and vocations. The freshman retreat is designed to build community among members of the class. They have the opportunity to learn how to communicate with God and with each other. The sophomore retreat is on the dignity of women and how to deepen one’s relationship with God. The junior retreat is about one’s personal spirituality and how to develop a healthy mind, body, and soul. Finally, the seniors reflect on their past and present spiritual journey and look forward to the future in their retreat. They create mementos that signify that their relationship with God will continue to deepen through their lifelong bond with the Benedictine community.

Anne Gleberman '23

The benefit of attending a Catholic school is that it puts our faith first, strengthening our morals and helping us truly put God first in our lives.

12829 River Road
Richmond, VA 23238
BCP Phone: (804) 708-9500
SGHS Phone: (804) 358-9114
Fax: (804) 784-5410
TAX ID: 27-0339456