St Norbert College - Year 11 - Prepared for all Good Works

Christian Service attempts to provide an experience for students where they have the opportunity to meet and form relationships with people who are disadvantaged in some way. The reason for providing such an experience is that it broadens the students’ perception and understanding of what it means to love.

Prior to Year 11, students have essentially focussed on the importance of serving their immediate family (Year 8), the local College community (Year 9) and supporting service providers who target the poor and the disadvantaged by providing material support (Year 10).

Students in Year 11 are expected and challenged to get a little closer to the persons they offer Christian service. They actually meet and spend time with the person. This is the fastest way to challenge and breakdown judgemental barriers. It is hoped that in experiencing the person, the students reflect and reconsider some of the judgements they have adopted.

The Christian is called to love and the reason we are called to love is because it is when we serve love that we find ourselves living in peace and harmony. The fastest way towards conflict and disharmony is through judgement.

Students who experience this project also spend time in reflection, completing a journal and using their insights to explore their experience. A one day ‘Encounter’ retreat is provided for students soon after they complete their Christian service to help them explore further their experience. Listening to their peers in a very carefully planned retreat provides a context for students to transform some of their thinking and create a freedom within themselves to love more unconditionally.

Aims:

For all Year 11 students to gain first hand experience of giving service in a community based organisation.
For students to gain an appreciation of how others live due to their specific circumstances.
For students to discover that they have skills and abilities, both innate and learnt that can add value to a person’s life.
For students to gain the recognition that giving service brings a sense of well being and harmony, thereby bringing forth the ongoing desire to serve others.
For students to serve Love and for them to gain a sense of being connected into something infinitely bigger than themselves.

Resources:

Prepared for all good works booklet

Christian Service Learning Journal

Service positions for 2010 in pdf format

General Welfare

Seniors

Disabilites