Campus Ministry

The Campus Ministry Department at Elizabeth Seton collaborates with the Religion Department and the Administration to facilitate the spiritual growth of the students.

Campus Ministry organizes retreats, coordinates school liturgies and prayer, oversees the Service Learning Program, and offers numerous service projects. Campus Ministry leads students to actively embrace prayer, reflection, and service in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul.

Service Learning Program

In the spirit of Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Vincent de Paul, ESHS students complete service hours each year to those in need. Service hours are recorded and become part of the student's religion grade. The Service Learning Team offers guidance and suggestions for service, in addition to organizing diverse opportunities for students to serve at local non-profit agencies. Seton students serve at organizations such as S.O.M.E., St Ann's Infant and Maternity Center, the Father McKenna Center, and Special Olympics with both ongoing weekly and one-time project or event commitments.

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Weekly School Service Opportunities
- Visiting Shepard's Cove women's shelter
- Tutoring at Rogers Heights elementary school
- Visiting Sacred Heart Nursing Home
- Making sandwiches for S.O.M.E. after school
- Helping at Eco City Farms
Contact Information

Contact:
Campus Minister - Ms. Erin Donn - edonn@setonhs.org
Service Learning Policy
In the spirit of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Vincent de Paul, and emboldened by the gospel message, Elizabeth Seton High School requires students to complete service hours each year.

For the purpose of our program, we will use a broad definition of service, which will include:
- Direct or indirect service to a needy population, including those experiencing poverty, illness, old age or physical/mental/emotional limitations. Examples include sorting food at a food pantry, serving meals at a soup kitchen, visiting residents of a nursing home, assisting with a Special Olympics event.
- Educational opportunities, whereby students learn about local, national or global needs or crises. Campus Ministry will offer opportunities for listening to speakers and/or watching videos, followed up by a reflection activity. Student suggestions are encouraged.
- Awareness and advocacy work, which includes researching an issue and organizing a project to call for change. Proposals must be presented to Campus Ministry for pre-approval.
- Environmental projects, such as organized clean-ups, education and awareness efforts and community recycling events.
- Social justice efforts, whereby students consider a person or population who has been treated unfairly and determine how such iniquities should be addressed. Proposals must be presented to Campus Ministry for pre-approval.
Please refer to the Campus Ministers with any questions or project ideas.

Hourly Requirements:
- Freshman year: 10 hours
- Sophomore year: 15 hours
- Junior year: 15 hours
- Senior year: 20 hours
*Scholars are required to complete an additional 10 hours of service. Please contact the Scholars Program coordinator with any questions.

Hours will be determined by the actual amount of time of participation.

Service hours are due in April. Please refer to the school calendar for specific dates.

Students will complete an annual reflection assignment in their Religion class during the second semester, which will be assigned by the individual teachers.

Seniors who have not completed the graduation requirements for the Service Program (this includes the reflection project for class) by the deadline will not be eligible for an exemption from their Religion final exam.

Completion of each year’s minimum number of service hours is a graduation requirement. Attendance at prom and graduation is contingent upon successful completion of this requirement.

Hours that are not completed during the school year must be completed during the summer. Class schedules for the following school year will not be provided to students until their service hour requirement from previous years is complete.

Other guidelines:
- You may not skip school to complete service hours.
- Cooking or baking food to be delivered to an organization will be worth one service hour.
- All students will be given a MobileServe account, which they will use to record hours on their cell phones or laptops. Instructions for use will be provided.
- Falsification of service hours in any way may result in a meeting with the Dean of School Climate and Culture.

Retreat Program

Each class year has a retreat designed to enrich their personal and spiritual growth. From Freshmen meeting their new classmates, teachers, and big sisters to Seniors reflecting on their time at Seton, where they are going, and the role of God in their lives, each student is given the opportunity to grow and consider their path as an individual and as part of their class.

Seton Encounter is an optional Christian experience of prayer and reflection run by a team of adults and students, similar to the Kairos Retreat offered at many high schools. Although it's a Catholic retreat, it has been attended by many Christians and non-Christians with equally wonderful results. Retreatants develop their relationship with God, their classmates, and themselves through a series of talks, small group discussions, group reactions, liturgies, and reconciliation.