Community Service Catechesis School Year 2008/2009

DOWNLOAD SERVICE HOUR FORM

Dear Sixth, Seventh & Eighth Graders,

As you are growing older and continuing on in the process of initiation or membership into the Catholic community, more is expected of you in your life of discipleship.  The three Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.  In Baptism and Eucharist we are called to life in Christ.  We are called to reach beyond thinking of just ourselves and to serve others as Jesus spent his life.  You are now deepening your baptismal calling by journeying towards Confirmation in 8^th grade.  You have been taught that we are made in the image of God and that life is sacred.  Holding these truths mean that you carry a certain responsibility in caring for yourself and others.  As you are discovering new things about yourself in these years you are also discovering talents that you have to offer to others.  In fact you are now mature enough to have people count on you.  Eighth grade Confirmation is not just about one day, but about a lifestyle that has been passed on to us from Jesus.  This is why we are beginning our service hours in 6^th grade.  Developing a lifestyle and making a commitment takes time.  Confirmation is a very serious commitment of yourself to God and others.  In light of this reality you are being asked to live the life of Jesus.

As part of your preparation over the next three years we are asking that you share your talents and time with the communities in which you are involved, home/friends, school/sports, the greater community and Church.  A minimum amount of activities are required depending on your grade level but you may find yourself interested in doing an activity even after your mandatory service is fulfilled.  Remember that service is a life-long project.  You may begin your service over the summer although when in 7^th grade there are very particular options.

We look at the next three years as a whole. 

6^th GRADE:  You must do two different activities from each of the four categories (on the Service Hour Form) for a total of eight activities.  For each activity you must complete a Service Hour Form.  The form must be complete and should be handed in during class, the 6^th grade coordinator will tell you the due dates.  See below to download the Service Hour Form. 

7^th GRADE:  You must help out in Catechesis classes five times throughout the Catechesis school year, either on Sunday morning, Tuesday afternoon or Thursday afternoon.  Or you may volunteer to perform your service during Vacation Bible School (you would volunteer in April/May of 6^th grade for the June VBS – space is limited, call early).  Completing VBS fulfills all of the service requirements for the year.  If you don’t sign-up for VBS, for the 7^th grade Tuesday or Thursday classes, you will sign up for service on your first day of class.  Sunday 7^th grade classes may call the office to sign up.  Please let the office know if you are unable to attend a service date so that it can be reassigned to someone else and you can reschedule.  If you are unable to perform this type of service, you may complete the same service that the 6^th and 8^th graders perform.

8^th GRADE:  You must do two different activities from each of the four categories (on the Service Hour Form) for a total of eight activities.  For each activity you must complete a Service Hour Form.  The form must be complete and should be handed in during class; the 8^th grade coordinator will tell you the due dates.  See below to download the Service Hour Form. 

 
CRITERIA FOR SERVICE

 

• Key Question:  Who does it help?

• Service gives direct aid in some form to those that are disadvantaged or aids those groups or organizations that promote faith and/or good works.

• Service relates to the Corporal Works of Mercy (feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, help those imprisoned, shelter the homeless, care for the sick, and bury the dead) and/or Spiritual Works of Mercy (share your knowledge with others, give advice to those who need it, comfort those who suffer, be patient with people, forgive those who hurt us, give correction to those who need it, pray for the living and the dead).

• All service should be done strictly as service.  It should not be something that you were “doing anyway” and so decided to have it count also as service.  This has to do, therefore, with what is in your heart.  You will know if you are taking shortcuts.

• There is no pay for service.

• Community and Parish service helps people that you do not know.  Helping people you do know is called friendship and family.

• A good source of information for Community Service is the Park Ridge papers as well as the Park District publications under Special Events.

• If you would like to do service at the Park Ridge Library, you must sign-up for service IN PERSON (see Pat Ciprian) and you must commit to at least 1 ½ hours.

• Under each category there is a choice of “Other” you must fill in what service it was and be prepared to explain it to the coordinator in the fall.

 

SERVICE PROJECT PROCEDURE

• Download the Service Hour Form (see below)

• Look over the list of activities and see what interests you.

• Phone or meet with the contact person.  Remember that not all the activities are yearlong and some have limits on participation.  So if you see or hear of an opportunity for service, do not delay in calling and scheduling a time.

• Complete the Service Hour Form and get all the required signatures.

• Hand your forms in as they come due.

•   Remember SERVICE is a REQUIREMENT for ALL 6^th, 7^th & 8^th graders.