Campus Ministry &
Serviam Program
Campus Ministry
Guided by Catholic tradition, the counsels of the Ursuline foundress, St. Angela Merici and the Ursuline philosophy of Serviam ‘I will serve’, Campus Ministry at Ursuline Academy seeks to create an environment permeated with Gospel values. The nourishment of spiritual life in our students takes place in a variety of ways throughout the year, including active participation in daily prayer, weekly prayer services, Eucharistic Masses with Choral Group and Liturgical Dance ministries, Peer Minister-led retreats and student service in the local community through Mission Day outreach, Thanksgiving Food Drive, Christmas in the City, Cloth-A-Child Project, Belle of the Ball Prom Dress Donation Program and many more worthy organizations.
This year, Campus Ministry seeks to expand opportunities for student leadership in community building and service learning by offering day-long service trips to local organizations, such as the Dedham Food Pantry and My Brother’s Keeper, a weekend to support the Walk for Life in Washington, D.C. and a week-long service trip offered from June 15-22, 2013 in partnership with our sister school, Ursuline Academy, New Orleans, to work on home repair in underserved areas of New Orleans.
Through these service opportunities, Campus Ministry at Ursuline Academy hopes to enrich our community with a greater depth of contemplation and participation in Catholic social action. We look forward to publishing the details of these service trips and the application process for student participation in a future edition of the Bear Essentials e-newsletter. The Campus Ministry Office welcomes all suggestions for service projects and will consider all submissions carefully. Thank you for your continued prayers and work in support of our mission, Serviam. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Mary-Kate Tracy in the Campus Ministry Office at x 116.
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Serviam
Click here to access Serviam Program Contract (PDF).
In keeping with Ursuline's motto, "Serviam: I will serve" and the Christian call to reach out to help others, each student is required to perform some type of community service in keeping with her abilities and interests. Our goal is that each student comes to know the joy of giving others her most valuable gift - herself - and one of her most precious resources - her time.
Expectations
Hours of Service:
- Grades 7 - 9 30 hours of service per year
- Grades 10, 11 40 hours of service per year
- Grade 12 40 hours of service per year, plus an additional three weeks in May
Application and Contract:
Each student must find her own service project, keeping in mind her interests, availability and site location. Each project must be approved by the coordinator and the contract signed by the student and her parents.
What counts as service?
Service is defined as:
- help given without pay or other compensation
- help given to those who could not afford to pay
- help given which benefits people directly
We encourage student creativity in finding projects for service and strongly suggest that students look for a way to serve that allows them to interact with others in a way that improves the quality of life of those being served.
Service Log:
The student records the dates and the hours of service each time. The agency confirms the recorded information.
Discussion or Sharing of Experience:
Students are expected to discuss their projects several times a year with a faculty adviser. Seniors have the opportunity for a formal presentation at the end of the May release time.
Evaluation:
Students are expected to complete the self-evaluation forms of their experiences. A completed evaluation form must be submitted to advisers at the end of each school year. Seniors are expected to keep and submit a journal.
The following list is offered as a stimulus to
creative thinking about possibilities for service.
- teach or assist in a school and/or a CCD program
- visit the elderly, shut-ins
- coach an athletic team
- transport the elderly to grocery store, church, doctor, etc.
- work for an organization, e.g. Pulse, St. Vincent de Paul, Samaritans, Por Cristo, CYO, etc.
- work at a food pantry
- babysitting during Sunday Mass
- school projects
- work with the handicap, special children/adults
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