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Approved Sites

Basic philosophy for christian service

  1. Service that directly correlates with the Works of Mercy 
  2. Service that supports and advances the mission of Catholic education and formation at Saint Joe, at our feeder schools and parishes, and Catholic ministries in our area. 
  3. Service that integrates the preferential option for the poor, an important part of Catholic Social Teaching.  
  4. Any training associated with an approved site also counts as service!

To work at sites not on the approved list below,  please email Deacon Andy at least one week prior to doing the service at aoross@saintjoehigh.com and include the following:

  • Name of the organization
  • Type of activity that will be performed
  • Explain how this activity and organization fulfills our basic philosophy for Christian Service, numbers 1-3 above. 
  • Name of person in charge or who will be the supervisor.
  • Email of supervisor that is a professional email
  • Willingness of the person in charge to make known these opportunities to all our students at least one week in advance and for us to make known his/her contact information to our students.

The FOllowing Sites are approved for christian service.

  • Assisting with catechesis or religious education for children in junior high and under. 
  • Children’s Liturgy of the Word (½ hour).
  • Vacation Bible School.
  • Lectoring, EMHCing( ½ hour of service).
  • MCing, altar serving, cantoring , choir, music instrumentalist,  hospitality ministries like being an usher (one hour of service).
  • Church cleaning, maintenance, lawn work (but not if done for a for hire company).  
  • Leadership for youth ministry directed to junior high and under (not peers).
  • Youth group service trips and activities (fundraising time only if for service activity or the church).  
  • Serving at special parish events such as fairs, dinners, picnics, festivals.
  • Charitable church activities like food pantries, assisting the elderly, handicapped, childcare.
  • For approval for a Church Activity not on this list contact aoross@saintjoehigh.com

  • After School Care
  • Assisting Coaching
  • Sports game management:  scoreboard, refing, timing.
  • Concession stands.
  • Assisting with theater, musicals, band, clubs, science fairs.
  • Tutoring.  
  • Prepping/grading for teachers.
  • School maintenance and cleaning.
  • Y-Care–bring this application, filled out and signed by parents to Deacon Andy.  After school care programs at these schools:
    • Holy Cross Catholic School
    • Mishawaka Catholic School
    • Saint Joseph Grade School (South Bend)
    • Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School

 

  • Summer sports, theater, art, tech camps for elementary and junior high students.
  • Mass:
    • Lectoring, EMHCing( ½ hour of service).
  • MCing, altar serving, cantoring , choir, music instrumentalist,  hospitality ministries like being an usher. (one hour of service).
  • Morning Mass or during flex (½ hour of service)
  • ICCL both at Saint Joe and Catholic Schools
  • Concessions during events at Saint Joe.
  • Help with Pastoral Ministry events and projects
  • Back to school night, Discover Saint Joe, Open House, graduation.
  • NHS service
  • Aidan's Masterpiece
  • CRS club
  • HOPE club
  • GREIA
  • Peer mentor duties
  • Charitable events done for approved service sites by classes, teams, clubs, student government. 

The following volunteer activities and sites are not approved for christian service.

  • Coaching, assisting with club, travel, and league sports. The exception is charitable activities like, Challenger Baseball or Sled Hockey.
  • Extracurriculars like dance classes, theater, unless it directly charity.
  • The day-to-day activities and functions of another high school or university. (Unless it involves a charity outside of the organization. An example would be Strike-Out Cancer.) 
  • Work that benefits organizations whose membership or services are not accessible to the poor. (Country Clubs, unless it involves direct charity.)
  • Work done for monetary compensation.  Example: After school care for which you are paid does not count.  After school care for which you volunteer does count.  
  • Any work for a for profit organization, even if done for free.
  • Done for family, friends, or neighbors.  Your service should not at all be connected with your family's jobs, work, businesses, activities, services, or normal duties.  Example: cutting your grandma’s grass is part of your familial duty.  
  • Any service done by taking time off of school to complete service will not count.  You must have special permission given by Deacon Andy or Mrs. Baglow to use Flex Period to complete service hours.
  • Work done as part of the normal functioning of your own clubs.  Examples:  Quiz Bowl members setting up for a tournament does not count. Science club students cleaning lab equipment does not count.  Theater students participating in set construction does not count.
  • Direct service or connection to a political campaign. 
  • Work for a program or cause whose mission is in opposition to the Catholic Church and its teachings. (Interpretation of this guideline is entirely within the purview of the pastoral ministry team.)