Ministry
of Service -
part of what means to be Catholic
Jesus
said, “Here I am among you as one who serves.”
(Luke 22:27)
Why
do service?
As Catholic Christians, a ministry of service is one of the most
important things we do. Throughout
Scripture we are called to love our neighbor and to stand up for
justice and peace. Micah
6:8 reminds us that Yahweh only asks that we “act
justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with our God”.
Since justice and service are so important to who we are as
Catholics, we ask that each Confirmation candidate make his/her service project a priority.
How
long should my project last?
Serving others is not just something we do to “get it over with;” it
is a part of what it means for us to be Catholic.
Therefore, it is recommended that Confirmation candidates
become involved in a new service project that is ongoing, and that becomes a regular commitment.
Doing “service” at home, where you are already expected to
help out, does
not count
for a Confirmation service
project.
Most service
projects
can also be used for school graduation requirements.
Each candidate should choose a service project that lasts for a minimum of 20 hours.
It is strongly encouraged that students begin to work on their
service projects as soon as possible.
Projects MUST be completed by April 1, 2008. While the project
is to be completed by the candidate, parents may need to help
coordinate/initiate projects for their children.
What project
should I choose?
You
can click here for a suggested list of approved service projects. If a Confirmation
candidate wishes to be involved in a service project not included on
this list, he/she must contact the Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Meghan
Cosgrove,
at 410-464-4012 prior
to starting the project for approval.
When
do I need to decide on my project?
A general guideline is for candidates to have begun service projects by the Rite of Enrollment in the fall of 2007.
Parents will need to help the candidate negotiate an
appropriate schedule for his/her service
project to be completed in a timely fashion.
Is there any
required paperwork?
When
the candidate has completed a minimum of 20 hours, he/she is
responsible for having the supervisor
of the project complete the Confirmation 2008 Service Project Form,
which can
be printed from the link to the left.
