“Faith of itself, if it does not have works, isdead.”James 2:17

 

COMMUNITY MINISTRY PROGRAM

The Community Ministry Program provides students the opportunity to share their time and talents with the community. All students are required to complete a total of 100 hours with the minimum for twenty-five (25) hours for each year in their four-year career at Archbishop McCarthy High School.

Students must follow the guidelines for Community Ministry Projects strictly to receive credit for their Theology class.

Silver Cord Award: Seniors completing 300 or more cumulative hours may receive this award for graduation. Completed hours for all four years, must be submitted on or before the stated senior due date to be eligible for the award.

COMMUNITY MINISTRY VERIFICATION FORMS DUE DATES:

• Service hours are due on last day of 3rd quarter.

COMMUNITY MINISTRY PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

The following is a summary of the Community Ministry Project Requirements. A full list is found on the back of the Community Ministry Verification sheets.

• All community ministry projects must be PRE-APPROVED by the student’s theology teacher or the Campus Minister.

• All community ministry projects must be properly documented with a completed Community Ministry Verification Form and should include a letter from the place of ministry on that agency’s letterhead.
  

• All community ministry verification forms must be presented in person to the student’s theology teacher only. Forms MAY NOT be faxed or emailed.
  

• Community Ministry credit may be earned at AMHS; however only 10 hours per school year will be applied to the total for the year and the cumulative total. All or most of the hours must be for the benefit of the wider community outside of the school community: parish, educational facility (other than AMHS), non-profit nursing home, etc.
  

• Any activity that contrary to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church or endangers the safety or health of a student in anyway is not acceptable for Community Ministry.
  

• Failure to complete community ministry hour minimum requirements and turn in the proper documentation by the due date and time will result in a failure for the Theology class and must be retaken in summer school at AMHS.
  

• All final decisions concerning community ministry hours will be at the discretion of the Campus Minister.

COMMUNITY MINISTRY VERIFICATION FORM

Click here to download the 2009-2010 form

Mission Trip
Coordinator: Ms. Kohrt

Seniors who are 18 years of age by the date of travel, complete an application process and commit to weekly preparation meetings will be eligible to travel to the Dominican Republic during Holy Week for Mission. Students serve a community of Haitian Migrants in a batey (sugar cane field) in Consuelito. Students conduct a Bible Camp with children, youth group with teens and prayer services for adults. There is no language requirement.

Amor en Acción
Coordinator: Mrs. Kohrt

This is a mission ministry whose main purpose is to raise funds to pay for teacher salaries and provide other support for our sister school, Chamoise, in the diocese of Port-de-Paix, Haiti. Every September the club sponsors "Mission Week" to bring awareness to our sister school by bringing in a speaker from the Archdiocese of Miami's Amor en Acción Office and sponsoring different activities. This ministry meets at least twice a month and is open to all students.

Liturgical Ministry
Coordinator: Mr. Covone

This ministry exists to promote and to organize our school community’s sacred liturgy and prayer life. Students and all members of our school community respond to their baptismal call by participating actively in the preparation and organization of liturgical functions. Students are invited to serve as lectors, ushers, altar servers, and upon receiving proper instruction to serve as Eucharistic Ministers. As liturgical ministers, students, through periodic meetings and other extracurricular activities, promote the sense of sacredness in worship, while continuing to exemplify and witness to a life centered in Christ and his Church.

Liturgical Music Ministry
Coordinator: Mr. Ríos

This is an ensemble that exists to provide musical accompaniment to worship. It consists of both singers as well as musicians of all kinds. Students rehearse weekly and provide music for mass and other Campus Ministry related events.

 

Liturgical Dance Ministry
Coordinator: Mrs. Gandarillas

This is an organization that artistically combines music and ballet dancing to praise the Lord in a prayerful manner. Students practice two to three times a week in meetings, planning and rehearsal of this ministry.

 

Respect Life Ministry
Coordinator: Mr. Covone

This is a ministry has as its mission the promotion of the care and respect for life in all its forms, from conception to natural death. This mission is accomplished through participation by students in events which raise public awareness and educate the student body on life issues such as abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, and embryonic stem cell research. Members of Respect Life Ministry plan and conduct events, such as Respect Life Week, the Walk For Life, Prayer Chains, diaper drives, Parents and Grandparents Mass and Breakfast, and the Spiritual Adoption Program.

Peace and Justice Ministry
Coordinator: Mrs. Kohrt

This group works for Social Justice in the local community as well as at the state, national and global levels. It sponsors the annual food drive, personal care and toiletries drive, and it supports the annual Battle of the Bands for Darfur to raise awareness of the situation in this part of the world. All students are encouraged to join and help promote awareness of the injustices that take place in our world today.

 

H.E.L.P. (Helping the Elderly Live Purposefully)
Coordinator: Mrs. Meyers and Mrs. Pérez

This is a ministry which allows the students to interact with senior citizens in the community. Students visit the nursing home twice a month and minister to non-ambulatory elderly persons. The group engages the nursing home residents in conversation; play games with them and provide entertainment through singing, dancing and skits. Students also prepare holiday crafts and deliver them to the nursing home during the different seasons. The HELP ministry allows students to gain a close and respectful relationship with senior members of our society as well as opportunities to encounter God in while ministering to others.