Service Program
Why have a service program?
From the Bible: "But if I wash your feet - I who am teacher and Lord - then you must wash each other's feet. What I just did was to give you an example, as I have done, so you must do." John 13:13-15
From the Bishops: “More than any other program of education sponsored by the Church, the Catholic school has the opportunity and obligation to be unique, contemporary and oriented to Christian Service…because it helps students acquire skills, virtues and habits of heart and mind required for effective service to others.” To Teach as Jesus Did - #106
Community Service at Christian Brothers College High School is designed to open the hearts and minds of our students to the reality of other members of their community. This program often allows our students to become acquainted with disadvantaged and vulnerable members of our society – people that most of them do not usually associate with in their daily lives. In this way, our students will be able to understand and relate to the challenges and hopes of these people on a deeper, more personal level. As a result, it is our hope that they will recognize the holy presence of God in others while they develop empathy and compassion for these individuals, which will inform the personal and professional decisions that they make throughout their lives.
Freshman and Sophomore Service
Freshmen and sophomores are required to do a minimum of 16 hours of Christian Service each year, completing at least 8 of those hours in the first academic semester. Failure to complete these hours will result in a grade of “F” in religion for the semester within which the student failed to complete his hours, and makes them ineligible for all co-curricular sports and activities at CBC until the hours are completed. Students are permitted to perform these hours in the summer prior to the academic year (provided that the previous academic year and all corresponding requirements have been completed.) Service hours cannot be performed for a student’s parent/guardian performing regular household tasks (i.e. babysitting younger siblings, cleaning the house, etc.). Hours may be performed with a parent/guardian if it is for a larger charitable organization/event. Service hours cannot be performed with a for-profit business/organization unless it is in connection with a larger charitable organization/event.
CBC uses x2Vol to help students to track hours, and to post opportunities. Students have been introduced to how to use x2Vol to track hours as well as to find service opportunities. x2Vol will also be used to verify the hours students have done so they may meet the minimal service requirements. When students submit hours to be verified, they will also write a reflection. Here is a link with some tips on writing good reflections.
Junior Service
CBC’s Vision Statement reads: “Christian Brothers College High School will create positive change in our community and world through the lives of our graduates: young men who are guided by faith, strengthened by intellect, committed to justice, and prepared to lead and serve.” In light of this, the administration of CBC has granted all juniors a privileged time in May to demonstrate their faith and commitment to justice through servant leadership by releasing them from academic work three weeks prior to the conclusion of the school year. Please note, this does NOT mean that summer vacation simply starts three weeks earlier for juniors. Rather, it is the expectation at CBC that all juniors complete their junior year experience in direct service of others during this three week period so that they will grow in their awareness of the needs of those they serve, and, hopefully, become more committed to the service of others as they become "Men for Tomorrow." This service experience begins with a prayer service on the first Friday of May to commission the junior class for service. This prayer service is designed to promote the ideal of leadership that we envision for seniors at CBC - to be Servant Leaders.
CBC uses x2Vol to track and verify service hours. For juniors, there are two steps to hour verification to fulfill the minimum requirement. Specific instructions as to how to log on to x2Vol, propose a way to fulfill their requirement with an agency, and verify their hours will be given early in the fall semester. Please note that: 1) the sing "Contract Hour," is to be submitted, verified, and approved in x2Vol by the first of December each year*; 2) the service must be through an approved agency, lists of which can be found on x2Vol; and 3) the service rendered must be in direct service of people in situations of poverty (economic, social, physical, or mental). This service can be completed locally or through a CBC sponsored mission trip.
*For the class of 2023, this date has been pushed back to February 1, 2022. It is our hope that by providing this additional time, students will find more options available to them as service agencies continue to react to COVID-19.
CBC Mission Trip Applications for the Class of 2023 are due on December 1. Information about how to apply for mission trips will be provided early in the fall semester in each junior religion class.
What is needed for month of May
When students submit hours to be verified, they will also write a reflection that gets included on their service transcript. Here is a link with some tips on writing good reflections.