During the academic year, students will be asked to complete a total of 20 hours. At least 10 service hours for first semester and 10 hours by the end of second semester. Verification forms can be found here. A hard copy of the verification sheet needs to be handed in, not emailed to your teacher. Students are asked to choose an organization from those listed below (or another non-profit organization that has been approved) to which they would like to be of service. Suggested organizations to be of service include the following:
The school's mission statement drives the Theology Department to deepen students' faith with a global perspective, while service initiatives like Elizabeth Prout Days allow students to embody the Corporal Works of Mercy through concrete actions.
For example, during the '23-'24 school year, Freshmen students “fed the hungry” by organizing and hosting a prayer service and community spring celebration lunch at an inner city senior center. Sophomores “visited the sick/shut-ins” by visiting, conversing, playing games, celebrating Mass, writing letters and giving artwork at several nursing homes. Juniors “sheltered the homeless” by helping a local temporary shelter open its doors for the first time during the cold winter season and served in the garden, organized clothes donations and made and provided bag lunches at an inner city homeless shelter as well as hearing powerful stories from people who had experienced homelessness. Seniors “visited the imprisoned” by learning about and participated in the Diocese’s “Just Prayers” initiative by writing prayer cards in English and Spanish to inmates.
Junior and Senior students participated in the Romero Center’s “Urban Challenge” program and assisted with several organizations that serve the poor in Camden, NJ.Through these experiences students learned that they could “use God’s gifts to help others and not take what we have for granted and that “God teaches us to help the less fortunate and love everyone by spreading love and care, just like Jesus did.”