Nathaniel's Journey

Moving into Manhood in the Marianist Tradition
At St. Mary’s, many boys are like Nathaniel of scripture (JOHN 1:45-51). They want to belong, they want to participate and they want to take the leap into discipleship but they are skeptical, perhaps a bit hesitant. That’s why St. Mary's created Nathaniel’s Journey-a 9th grade initiative. This initiative is St. Mary’s response to current research on how teenage boys learn and how they view spirituality. Nathaniel’s Journey provides greater continuity and support for boys as they seek to identify who they will become in an adult world. This initiative helps our boys acclimate quickly to high school so they can become participating members of the St. Mary's family right away.

Just as Jesus recognized Nathaniel’s unique gifts, the community of St. Mary’s recognizes that each student is a unique gift to the world. Through Nathaniel’s Journey, St. Mary’s has tailored a special approach to meeting boys’ academic, social and spiritual needs at this exciting time in their lives.

The Nathaniel’s Journey Initiative includes:

  • Lunch with the President
  • Freshman Orientation which includes alumni, fathers and Big Brothers
  • Small Religion Classes 
  • Small Homerooms
  • Student, Faculty and Alumni Mentors
  • Service Learning
  • Monthly Field Trips
  • Big Brothers lockers placed next to Freshman Homerooms
  • Monthly Events with the Big Brothers
  • A Ropes and Rituals experience
  • Interdisciplinary units of study such as the NASA, The Investigate Green & the Frank Lloyd Wright Projects
  • Movie Night with Parents on the CME’s
  • End of the Year Freshman Celebration with Parents

 

“I attribute Nathaniel’s Journey with much of the sense of belonging and self esteem that my sons felt at school during their entire four years there. In these small groups and meetings the teachers were able to extract a sense of the boys’ personalities, talents and needs. They use this information to get to know the boys better and to help each boy become a viable part of the school community right from the start.”
-Lisa Anvender, Parent of Ken, Class of 2009 and Steve, Class of 2010

The Story of Nathaniel 

John 1:45-51 

45Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

46"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.

47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

48"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."

49Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

50Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that."

51He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

  

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