Service

One of the components of our Central Catholic spritual formation is service involvement with "the least favored," that is people whose financial, emotional, or learning needs put them "on the fringe". Four years ago, as many schools have done, we instituted a graduation requirement of "one day" (24 hours) of service to be completed by the spring of Junior Year. Every one of our graduates since then has accomplished this goal, and many have gone beyond it. They say that once involved with people, it ceases to be a requirement, but flows from a relationship.
This morning a senior was recognized as the Student Service Person of the Month. She has already given 400 hours of service and is still involved in teaching religion in her parish. She will continue to serve on other projects as well as on retreat teams for underclassmen because that is where her heart is. She received a certificate, two movie passes and a guarantee of two free pieces of pizza on our next pizza day, but her real reward is the joy that she finds in giving of her time and talent. As the list of accomplishments was being read before her name was announced, one girl in the homeroom where I was standing, turned to another and mouthed, "Sam". Then the name, Samantha Murray, came over the PA. Her light was shining to others, even before there was public acknowledgement of her generosity, as it should be. Let us pray for "Sam" and the many others who give of themselves and serve as inspiration to others.
Bro. Rene