Students are a vital part of the liturgy and prayer planning process at STA. Theology teachers, Mrs. Phyllis Distler and Mrs. Mary Ann Hilgers facilitate the liturgy and devotional services aspect of Campus Ministry. They moderate a group of students known as the STA Prayer, Liturgy and Evangelization Team (STAPLE). This team of students meets weekly to plan upcoming all-school liturgies as well as special praise and worship events or other devotional prayer services.
It is important that the students take ownership of liturgy planning so that liturgies might be well adapted for a teen congregation and so that students might develop experience in planning liturgies and thus be ready to assist their own parishes in years to come. Students participate in liturgical ministries by volunteering as lectors, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, art and environment planners and altar servers.
The STAPLE team works with the school’s music department to provide appropriate music to foster full, conscious and active participation of the student body in the all school liturgies. The Catholic identity of the school is most vividly realized when the community gathers around the Lord’s table for the celebration of the Eucharist.