Christian Service

Everyone is called to serve

We serve because Jesus tells us that serving others is an important part of being a faithful Christian disciple: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40); “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” (John 13:15); and “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31), to name a few.

We all need practice

An athlete could not be considered strong if she only worked out her legs and not the rest of her body; a pianist could not be considered musically adept if he only practiced with his right hand; a student cannot move on to calculus before first mastering the basics of algebra.

Similarly, our program has an intentional shape to it. There are learning objectives that correspond to the spiritual and developmental needs of each specific class, as well as integration with Theology curriculum. Like lifting weights, practicing the piano, or studying math, our expectations within the Christian Service Program might stretch students outside of their comfort zone, but this is necessary so they can advance in their understanding of serving as Christ calls us to.

As a Catholic high school, we are proud to set high expectations in the formation of our students: academically, athletically, extracurricularly, and perhaps most importantly, spiritually. The Christian Service Program is an integral part of the spiritual formation of our students. It always goes back to Jesus, who is both Teacher and Servant: “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).

It fulfills a Graduation Pathway required by the IN DOE

We also serve at Bishop Chatard because it fulfills a Graduation Pathway required by the Indiana Department of Education to demonstrate employability skills. This means that, starting with the Class of 2023, in order to graduate, Bishop Chatard students must fulfill these expectations.

View Graduation Pathway Information

It’s part of who we are

The four pillars at Bishop Chatard are faith, learning, leadership, and service. It’s no coincidence that we start with faith and end with service. Faith is the fertile ground in which other virtues spring up, and service is the perfection of everything that we hope to achieve at Bishop Chatard: faithful, educated leaders giving themselves for others. “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

Jesus began His human understanding of service at home with His parents; after His birth at Bethlehem, Jesus went to Nazareth to live with Mary and Joseph. Although Scripture doesn’t reveal much about the early years of His life, we can imagine that Jesus learned Joseph’s trade and spent time with His extended family and friends, becoming strong and wise (Luke 2:39-40). Our freshmen begin their journeys of faith and service in the same way.

• Each freshman must intentionally spend time with a member of his or her family for a minimum of 10 hours.
• The important thing is that this time spent together leaves room for conversation and relationship-building.
• Freshmen may count up to two hours of service at a BCHS program or event** held during the school year toward their yearly Christian Service class expectation.

In the Gospel of Luke, Scripture shows Jesus participating in His Jewish faith with His family (Luke 2:41-52). In one instance, the Holy Family (Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph) travels to the Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Passover. After the festival, Mary and Joseph head back to Nazareth, each believing that Jesus was with the other parent. Once they realize their mistake, they spend three days looking for their lost twelve-year-old son. They eventually discover Jesus in the Temple, teaching the faith leaders of his day. Mary expresses her anxiety to Jesus, who responds, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49).

• Sophomores must complete 15 hours of service within a faith community. (If a sophomore is not active in any particular faith community, we encourage them to either join a church for a new experience or partner with a friend who is active in his or her worship community.)
• Sophomores may count up to three hours of service at a BCHS program or event** held during the school year toward their yearly Christian Service class expectation
• Since sophomore year is a time when many of our Bishop Chatard students are receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, many of them are already required to serve their parish; service done with the Confirmation class meets the expectation, too.

After His baptism, Jesus started His public ministry at the age of thirty (Luke 3:23). He gathered disciples, taught and preached, ate with the social outcasts and sinners, healed the sick and disabled, and performed miracles that demonstrated His identity as the Son of God. Yet even in His divinity, we see Jesus taking the time to care for those who society would deem as worthless: those without money, those without status, those without dignity. He paints a remarkable picture for His disciples in the Gospel of Matthew; he says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me,” claiming that “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:35-36, 40).

The admonitions of Jesus to care for those who have physical needs are often called the Corporal, or bodily, Works of Mercy.

• Juniors must spend 20 hours performing Christian Service that connects with the Corporal Works of Mercy.
• Juniors may count up to four hours of service at a BCHS program or event** held during the school year toward their yearly Christian Service class expectation.

Details

There is some flexibility in what students can do to meet this expectation. For example, “Give drink to the thirsty” could refer to a different kind of need, like the need for a role model in the lives of younger students who perhaps don’t have many good examples. Ask Campus Ministry if you think you have an idea that isn’t listed that would satisfy the expectations for your class.

At the Last Supper, Jesus tells His disciples, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). Jesus did not come to earth merely to perform miracles, but He laid a very clear foundation in His mission and handed that work of evangelization to the apostles, particularly to Simon Peter, the first Pope – “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). Jesus equipped the disciples with the Holy Spirit to do great things for the sake of building the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

Throughout the centuries, the Church has been guided by the Holy Spirit to clearly articulate a response to concerns about social justice; this set of principles is called Catholic Social Teaching, which seniors learn about in their theology classes.

• Seniors must complete 25 hours of Christian Service based on their understanding of Catholic Social Teaching and their personal service interests.
• Seniors may count up to five hours of service at a BCHS program or event** held during the school year toward their yearly Christian Service class expectation.

Details

There is some flexibility in what students can do to meet this expectation. Be sure to ask Campus Ministry if you think you have an idea that isn’t listed that would satisfy your class expectation. The important thing is being able to connect your service to one of the pillars of Catholic Social Teaching.