Christian Service Program
"The experience of Christian community leads naturally to service" (To Teach as Jesus Did: A Pastoral Message on Catholic Education, 28).
Through the Christian service program, junior high students give service beyond the school setting in ways that further their faith, engender hope, and witness love. Christian service should foster an understanding of the essential connection between the Eucharist and Christian service.
Catholic educators work to form young people who will lead happy and meaningful Christian lives of faith and service. Catholic schools provide students with the tools—intellectual growth, doctrine, piety, an understanding of the roots of societal problems, and the practice of the virtues—to become productive and transformative members of society.
A eucharistic spirituality that propels students into Christian service will help them not only to meet any crisis of values and meaning in their lives but also to be transformative agents in the world. The Eucharist is lived daily as the faithful take Christ to others.
Religious formation and Christian service should inspire young people to have a vision of their mission in society and the Church. This service should inspire young people to aspire to fulfill the vocation and mission to which God calls them. It is not good enough for them to think that they will just try to be good. Christ asks them to be the salt and light of the earth. Religious formation and the Christian service programs should transmit this vision to them.
As students complete service hours, they must record the hours by completing the “Service Hours Log” form. Students must also complete one “Service Hours Reflection Form” per trimester. Because service is a direct expression of religious conviction, accountability for service projects is maintained through Religion class. All students will receive a grade for this service each trimester. Students must complete the required hours and forms within the dates of each trimester. If deadlines are not met, service hours will not be honored. Please note the final deadline for 3rd trimester service hours is June 1.
| 6th Grade | 7th Grade | 8th Grade |
1st Trimester | 5 hours | 6 hours | 7 hours |
2nd Trimester | 5 hours | 6 hours | 7 hours |
3rd Trimester | 5 hours | 6 hours | 7 hours |
TOTAL HOURS | 15 hours | 18 hours | 21 hours |
8th grade students who complete 30 hours or more of service will receive a special commendation at graduation.
Since students belong to several communities, the Christian Service Program is directed toward the needs of the school, parish, and local communities, thereby providing students a variety of opportunities through which they may be of service to others. Some of the suggested activities and opportunities include: altar society, neighborhood cleanup, Boy and Girl Scout service projects, volunteering time to assist a teacher or a staff member (not during school hours), assisting during special school or parish functions.
Students must diversify their hours. A maximum of ⅓ of total hours is allowed per charity/institute/entity.
If a student has a question regarding what activities are acceptable for service, they must contact his/her religion teacher or the principal.
Parameters for Christian Service Hours:
Time spent must not be rewarded with payment or trade.
Service Hours should be altruistic and not related to family members.
Projects/hours may be daily, weekly or monthly.
Girl and Boy Scout service hours may be used, September through May.
Community, neighborhood, and church related are preferred.
