Gloucester Catholic Service Program Honored
The Gloucester Catholic Senior Service Program was recognized by
Governor Corzine’s office, April 5, 2007, for outstanding contributions
to the community at a breakfast held at the Cherry Hill Library.
Service coordinator, Mr. McKenna, accepted the award on behalf of
the student body from Deb Connor, President of DOVIA. GCHS was
honored along with the Friends of the Burlington County Library for
“inspiring by example.” GCHS was nominated for the award by Ms. Gaynelle Jarvis, head of volunteers for St. John of God in
Westville Grove. The certificate hangs proudly in the GCHS lobby.
Helping Katrina Victims
Service Coordinator, Mr. McKenna, took
a group of 24 students and 6 chaperones to New Orleans the week of
October 8, 2007 to
help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Students and adults helped put up sheetrock and
got a home ready for move in. Students
in Mr. McKenna's class raised funds to help support the trip.
How May We Serve You?
Alongside the boom in charter schools and the increase in standardized testing, service education is perhaps the fastest growing trend in American education. In the face of such good news, it seems fair to ask what is uniquely "Catholic" about our own commitment to service? How is Gloucester Catholic's service program any different than others?
Simply put, Gloucester Catholic's commitment to service flows directly from our baptismal commitment. As Christians, we are called to "put on Christ." We seek to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, instruct those without learning and provide a welcome and hospitality for all. We do this in Christ's name as members of the Body of Christ. This is the heart's core of our efforts.
Furthermore, the aim of our service is the creation of new and transformed relationships. As Jesus said, "I no longer call you servants, but friends"
(Jn 15:15). At Gloucester Catholic High School, we believe the purpose of human existence is friendship with God and one another. Friendship is the essence of Christian discipleship. Our efforts to serve are rooted in this conviction: we are called to befriend those whom we seek to serve and to be friends to one another as we do so. We serve in order to become better friends - with God, within our own community and with those we reach out to in friendship.
One of our former Student Council presidents, Ryan Murphy '04, addressed a meeting of major donors to Catholic education at the South Jersey Scholarship Fund. He spoke about delivering Thanksgiving baskets and discovering that the person in need of food was not simply a charity case, but a member of our community - someone "who is part of Gloucester Catholic." He related that, as one basket was delivered, the head of the family informed him "Gloucester Catholic will always be a part of me."
Therein lies the difference. We put on Christ in order that Christ is known wherever our name is known. We seek to be friends of God and friends to one another. We reach out to welcome those in need into the embrace of our friendship. That's the Gloucester Catholic spirit in action.
