Service Objectives

Commitment and service-learning are the core objectives of our Christian Service Program.

A Commitment to Service

The heart of Bellarmine's Christian Service Program is providing experiences for students where they are engaged in direct service with groups who are often marginalized in our society. A variety of service opportunities provide for both direct and miscellaneous service. Students must be attentive to the type of hours they are trying to fulfill. Service must be completed off-campus in non-profit agencies. These hours must be completed after school, in the evening, on the weekend or during school break, but not during actual class time. The CSP office provides transportation and supervision for students to engage in local service work. Graduation from Bellarmine is contingent on fulfilling all academic and Christian Service Program requirements.

Love has hands to help others. It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of me. This is what love looks like.

St. Augustine

Service-Learning

Service-learning is a methodology that connects active learning with planned service that meets a community need. Ideally, in service-learning, students become active practitioners of their own education. They take the knowledge imparted in the classroom and apply it to a concrete situation. Research has shown that there is a significant benefit to service-learning programs over volunteer programs. Curricular integration deeply enhances the success of the assignments as well as our goals for our "graduates at graduation."