Catholic Community, Retreats and Service

Commitment to Catholic Community

Founded and sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, we are a Catholic community:

Rooted in the Gospels of Jesus Christ and in the spirituality of our foundress, Saint Angela Merici
Committed to teaching and living the Ursuline Core Values of community, reverence, service, and leadership
Guided by the charism of Saint Angela Merici—a contemplative love of God and openness and eagerness to serve the needs of others
Dedicated to building community and offering education that affirms and enhances the dignity of all individuals.

Sacred Heart Academy’s commitment to Catholic, Christian values reaches far beyond the classroom as we help Valkyries grow into strong women of great faith. The Ursuline Core Values of Community, Reverence, Service, and Leadership are loved and lived by the faculty, staff, and students daily. SHA welcomes students of all faiths, with more than 20% of the student body coming from other faith backgrounds. We help develop students’ spiritual growth through our four-year theology curriculum, retreat and service programs, liturgical services, and daily prayer.

Liturgical Services and Prayer

At Sacred Heart Academy, we begin each school day with a prayer delivered by the Agape Club President. We gather regularly during the year for Mass, such as on Holy days, to mark the beginning and end of the school year, and the Feast of St. Angela Merici. Prayer services are held to celebrate important times in the Catholic Church such as Lent and Advent. These services are planned by the Campus Minister as well as the student Agape Club. Parents are always welcome to attend Masses and prayer services.

During freshman year, a parent Mass and rose ceremony is held the first month of school. There is a Sophomore Grandparent Mass and Senior Mother/Daughter Mass and Brunch. Seniors also celebrate a Baccalaureate Mass with their families during graduation weekend.

As a Catholic, Ursuline school, retreat is fundamental to shaping strong women of great faith. Not only is this a time for reflection on our life with God, but also an opportunity for students to become better acquainted with others outside their usual circle of friends. Parents can encourage their daughters to approach retreat with an open heart and mind and to appreciate the opportunity to make new friends and open lines of communication. Detailed information about retreat is emailed to the parents before the student attends.

Mission statement – To experience moments with God and his Son Jesus Christ that will spark a desire to deepen one's faith formation, based in the teachings of the Catholic Church and the core values of Saint Angela Merici.

Vision statement – Each student will live their faith life through practice and a hunger to continue the process of developing a deeper faith, with new tools of reflection, prayer, sacramental awareness and relationship with self, others, creation and God.

If you have any questions about the retreat program, please feel free to contact the retreat director, Ms. Betsy Daly at [email protected]

Freshmen

This retreat is centered around the Freshmen core value of Community. Sacred Heart Schools is a community rooted in the Ursuline ministry and tradition. The retreatants will spend the day on campus in the Ursuline Motherhouse. The retreatants will experience our community through exploration of the campus, teambuilding activities, and education about the foundress of the Ursulines, St. Angela Merici, as well as through prayer and the Sacraments.

Sophomore

The focus of sophomore retreat is the sophomore core value of Reverence. This year, we are excited to welcome back NET Ministries to help facilitate the Sophomore Retreat. NET Ministries is a Catholic network of young adults who are passionate about sharing the faith with youth. NET missionaries travel the nation leading hundreds of youth retreats each year.

Sophomore retreat consists of team building, prayer, the Sacraments, nature, and talks and activities led by the NET Ministries team. These activities will help them to understand and live out the importance of reverence towards self, others, creation, and God.

Junior

Junior retreat is based on the Junior core value of Service. This is a 2-day, 1-night retreat (8am of Day 1 through 2pm of Day 2) with an option of a 1-day retreat (8am-5pm) as well. Throughout this retreat, students will participate in service activities, service learning, team building, and be nurtured in their service work through prayer and the Sacraments.

Senior

Seniors can choose to attend either the traditional 4-day retreat or an alternative 1-day retreat. The traditional 4-day senior retreat is based on the “Christian Awakening Retreat Program” that many Catholic high schools implement, and it is considered by many to be the highlight of senior year. It is an experience that unites and blends all the core values ofcommunity, reverence, service, and leadership. Those who choose to attend the one-day retreat instead of the traditional 4-day retreat will experience a day of recollection, prayer, team building, and preparation for being sent forth into life beyond high school.

“Do something, get moving, be confident, risk new things, stick with it, praise God and celebrate all of life in prayer, then be ready for big surprises!”

SHA students are called to be compassionate servant leaders transforming the world they live in. Our students provide more than 22,000 hours of meaningful service to our Louisville community each year through unique ministry opportunities on the Ursuline Campus and local agencies. Freshmen and sophomores perform 20 hours of service, and juniors and seniors complete 25 hours, all outside the regular school day. In this way, our Valkyries learn that service to others is essential to a compassionate life. It becomes a regular part of their everyday lives, and they carry this value beyond our campus and into the world. It stays with them forever.

Nearly 43% of our students achieved the Service Honor Roll last year – meaning they voluntarily performed at least 20 service hours over the required number.

Students focus on the corporal works of mercy at outreach agencies that reflect Christian values as is described in Matthew 25:35-41. The school provides contact information for several local agencies and holds a service fair early in the fall semester.

Find current Service Opportunities on the Student Service Board