Sponsored by the Brothers of the Christian Schools and the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, Cretin-Derham Hall integrates faith, service and justice into the educational experience. These values create a foundation and context for student excellence.

Cretin-Derham Hall welcomes families of all faiths. Rooted in the charisms of our founders, the Catholic Social Teachings provides the lens through which faith, service and justice create global citizens. Students appreciate the blessing and responsibility of belonging in the community, caring for others and things greater than themselves.

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Worship: Sacraments, Liturgy and Prayer

As a community mindful of the holy presence of God, we gather for prayer and liturgy and find grace in the sacraments.

At the beginning of classes, we pray together.
Every school day at 7:30 am, a mass or celebration of the word is offered in the Blessed Brother James Miller Chapel (optional).
During Advent and Lent, we reconnect with God, the Church and our community through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
We celebrate all-school liturgies (mass) for the blessed events of the liturgical and school year.

Liturgical Ministry

Student involvement in prayer and liturgy offers a key to open students’ hearts to the love of God and the dear neighbor. Proclaiming God’s Word through proclamation (lector), through song (music ministry), bringing forth the bread and wine (gift bearers) and especially, giving Christ to one another (Eucharistic ministry) build a character of faith and service.

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Retreats

An annual class retreat provides students with a communal experience of prayer, relationship building, faith sharing and fun activities. Through one another, students encounter the presence of God and the love of God with and through their dear neighbor.

Justice Education Trips

Justice Education Trips immerse students into cultures and circumstances beyond their own experience. With thorough preparation before and thoughtful reflection during and after, students learn not only about the people they will meet but also about the social systems that these people encounter each day. Justice Education Trips plant seeds of hope for a future when the students who attend become leaders in the work to alleviate poverty and injustice.

Senior Fieldwork

Nearly every Thursday during the school year, seniors engage in fieldwork as an integral component of their senior religion course. Seniors leave campus midday, using their class period and lunch/flex to work in the community. This fieldwork component for seniors has been in place at CDH for 35 years. No other area school offers a comparable program. Students, both past and present, consistently share that fieldwork was one of their most valuable experiences at CDH.

CDH students in Senior Seminar, Philosophy/Theology, and Spectrum work at 32 different sites across the metro. Once a student is assigned to a location, she/he serves this organization for the entire school year, enabling them to best understand the mission and challenges of their site, build relationships, and make a significant contribution in their volunteer role.