Christian Service Policy and Schedule

Any other agency that is not on this list must be pre-approved by Mr. McDorman

Due Dates:

• Everyone on December 1, 2025 by 3:30PM
• Seniors hours are due May 1, 2026 by 3:30 PM
• Underclassmen on May 11, 2026 by 3:30 PM

1. Purpose - The Christian Service Program is an essential part of the Junipero Serra High School educational experience.  In line with our mission, Junipero Serra High School is committed to developing generous, responsible citizens and leaders.  Service with the vulnerable who are the poor, marginalized, and disenfranchised of the community is an essential part of a rich and integrated educational tradition.  Through various service experiences, the virtues of generosity, compassion, and wisdom will be further developed in each student.  The Christian Service Program has been integrated into our curriculum to provide a hands-on experience for students to answer the needs of our community and enable them to live up to the call of Christ to be his witnesses to the world. 

2. Mission - To provide service opportunities that foster an encounter with people on the margins. It promotes a healthy relationship and dialogue while developing a sense of justice and advocacy. In this program students are challenged to see the face of Christ in others, which empowers each young person to join in the work of bringing about the Kingdom of God and promotes responsible servant leadership
3. Theme - To see the face of Christ and to be the face of Christ to those we serve. 
4. Guidelines - The corporal and spiritual works of mercy are intended as guidelines for student service through Junipero Serra High School.  By adhering to at least one work from each column, a student may ensure that they are within guidelines.

Corporal Works of Mercy	Spiritual Works of Mercy
To feed the hungry	To instruct the ignorant
To give drink to the thirsty	To counsel the doubtful
To clothe the naked	To admonish the sinner
To visit the ransom and captive	To bear wrongs patiently
To shelter the homeless	To forgive offenses willingly
To visit the sick	To comfort the afflicted
To bury the dead	To pray for the living and the dead

Each student must sign into their Google Classroom for Christian Service. The Google Classroom is based on their current year in school. In addition, each student will complete ten hours per semester. Christian Service is a class offered as 8th period; it is a one credit course that does not affect GPA. The class is considered Pass/Incomplete. All students are required to complete a total of at least 80 hours over their four years at Junipero Serra High School. Student service should be served at a preferred agency, fall within the rubric or be pre-approved by the Christian Service Coordinator and fall in line with the theme and guidelines of the corporal or spiritual works of mercy. Students will need to directly work with people. The following items must be accomplished by students in order to earn credit for hours each semester:

1. Complete all sections of the Christian Service/Prayer Verification Form (including all signatures and         

the Christological reflection

1. Turn in all completed Service Verification Forms to the student’s respective Google Classrooms.

Service hours are due as posted on the school calendar. Please note that the senior due date will be earlier in the spring semester. Students may post their hours to their Google Classroom for Christian service at any time prior to the due date. Hours will be recorded by the Christian Service Coordinator in PowerSchool and will not count if turned in after the deadlines no matter if the hours were served before the deadline. Failure to complete and turn in hours by the semester deadline will result in a grade of “Incomplete” and an additional 10 hours of service required per semester incomplete. Please note that prayer may account for up to 40% of a student’s total service hours per semester.  When submitting makeup service hours, only 40% of those hours may be prayer-based.

Any student who transfers from another Catholic high school with a deficiency of Christian Service Hours that is recorded on their official transcript must be completed prior to senior year. 

If your work was not with a pre-approved agency, please fill out the Christian Service Rubric:	YES	NO
Work completed is at least one of the Corporal Works of Mercy or Spiritual Works of Mercy
Work completed took place off campus
I could be the face of Christ to or see the face of Christ in those I served
My work was directly with people and was service to a community in need

If all 4 boxes were appropriately answered with yes, then your service project is most likely approved (Subject to the final approval of the Christian Service Coordinator).

 

For concerns regarding Christian Service please contact: 

       Mr. McDorman

Christian Service Coordinator