Faith at Oakcrest School

Christ is at the heart of everything we do. Our education, guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church and the spirituality of Opus Dei, immerses students in a life of Christian virtue and helps them discover the joy of friendship with God. Whether it’s through Enrichment—when the school day pauses for daily Mass—monthly Adoration, or frequent opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Oakcrest provides an environment rooted in God’s love. Our students know that faith is a gift as well as a responsibility that calls for a life of integrity and compassion. Oakcrest students learn to be open to a healthy pluralism of opinions. From its founding, the school has welcomed students of all faiths or of no particular faith, and has respected the religious freedom of all.

The spiritual guidance and doctrinal instruction offered at Oakcrest is entrusted to Opus Dei, a personal prelature of the Catholic Church. At the core of Opus Dei’s mission is the teaching that all men and women are called to holiness, which can be pursued through our everyday lives and work. The spirit of Opus Dei inspires freedom, responsibility, initiative, and an environment of trust. Oakcrest students are encouraged to take ownership of their faith and their decisions so they live them to the fullest in college and beyond.

Daily Mass is offered at Oakcrest every morning, and many students and faculty choose to attend. The Liturgical Choir sings on Fridays and feast days. A reading room is available for students who prefer not to attend Mass. This Enrichment period is an opportunity to nourish and refresh the soul through prayer or silent reading in order to face the challenges of each day with serenity and strength.

Our chaplain, who is a priest of Opus Dei, is available every day for students and faculty who would like to receive spiritual direction or the Sacrament of Penance. Our chaplain periodically offers reflections for theology classes and leads class spiritual retreats throughout the year.

Situated in the heart of the campus, the chapel is available throughout the school day for quiet prayer.

- "Understand this well: there is something holy, something divine, hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it." Conversations with St. Josemaria Escriva, #114

Opus Dei

Opus Dei is a personal prelature of the Catholic Church founded in 1928 by St. Josemaría Escrivá. At the core of Opus Dei’s mission is the teaching that all men and women are called to holiness, which can be pursued through our everyday lives and work.

The parents who founded Oakcrest sought faculty who would offer a holistic education for their daughters and for future generations. They asked Opus Dei to take responsibility for the spiritual guidance and doctrinal instruction provided through the school. More than 35 years later, the members of Oakcrest’s Board of Trustees, Board of Directors and School Administration remain committed to this mission and are grateful for the continued inspiration and assistance that the Prelature of Opus Dei provides.

Our chaplains, priests of the Prelature, celebrate Mass in our chapel daily, and our school community approaches all work in a manner reflective of the spirit of Opus Dei—with dedication and cheerfulness, especially in the face of challenges.

Theology

We believe that the truth of the Catholic Faith is a treasure and consider the study of theology to be of great intellectual value, even for students who do not embrace the Catholic Faith. For these reasons, theology is an essential academic discipline at Oakcrest. Students discover the outstanding aspects of the Judeo-Christian heritage that have inspired the greatest achievements of Western Civilization. They learn to communicate their beliefs with conviction and charity, and to listen and learn from others of different world views. Alumnae of all faiths or none consistently say that they have drawn on what they have learned in their theology classes throughout their lives.

Sacraments

Daily Mass is available to all students who wish to attend. The chaplain is available every day for students who would like to receive spiritual direction or the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We encourage the students to grow in their life of friendship with God and to cherish the opportunity to reflect quietly, an important need, especially in our increasingly noisy world. Many students choose to spend a time of quiet prayer during our monthly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

How is faith incorporated into life at Oakcrest? Hear from Terri Collins alumnae mother of Lucy ‘11, Helen ‘14, Audrey ‘16 Goodwin, and Jill ‘17 Burtis as she discusses the importance of the Holy Mass at Oakcrest and how we welcome our students who are not Catholic.