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Curriculum » Catholic Spiritual Development

Catholic Spiritual Development

St. Brendan is, first and foremost, a Catholic school. The children receive daily religious instruction. Our parish pastor, Father Mike Quinn, and the priests and nuns in residence engage with the children both during school hours and at parish and school events. Our Catholic identity and mission are integrated into every aspect of our curriculum and student life.

Mass. The whole school attends Mass on the first Friday of every month, and parents are encouraged to attend. Students attend Mass on all Holy Days and every day during Lent. Children participate in school and parish Masses as lectors, greeters, ushers, Eucharistic ministers, acolytes, and members of the choir. One specific grade is assigned, each week during the school year, to attend and be ministers at the 9:30 am Family Sunday Mass.

Sacraments. Second graders prepare for and receive First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Eighth graders prepare for and receive Confirmation.

Social Service Projects. One of the distinguishing characteristics of St. Brendan School is our emphasis on finding ways to give back to our community through student-driven outreach projects that combine creativity, entrepreneurship, compassion, and empathy. Children of all grades may propose projects at any time by presenting their idea to their teacher and our principal, Ms. Lakatta. Children are responsible for the projects from inception to execution, and their reward is the joy of having given of themselves. In addition, each grade chooses one month during the school year to lead a schoolwide service project that focuses on and highlights one of our Schoolwide Learning Expectations.

Examples of these projects include:

  • Collecting towels for the SPCA;

  • Gathering new socks for the homeless;

  • Earning funds to donate to the Heifer International Project;

  • A fundraiser to benefit children with cleft palates;

  • Making sandwiches for the St. Vincent de Paul Society;

  • Making greeting cards for the homebound in the parish and assisted living facilities;

  • School-wide drive for various charities; and

  • Various fundraising projects to support local and global disaster relief organizations.


Action for Others Project  Eighth graders perform twenty hours of community service as part of their confirmation preparation. They volunteer at school and parish events and often propose their own social service projects.

Charitable Events and Programs. All St. Brendan students participate in the St. Vincent de Paul food drive and the San Francisco Firefighters’ Toy Drive at Christmas.

Peace Families. In grades 1 through 8 students participate in Peace Families led by our eighth graders. These families gather once a month to engage in team-building activities and share time together.

Altar Servers. Our sixth through eighth grade students are given the opportunity to be altar servers at school and parish Masses.