Christian Service Program: Developing "Men for Others"

St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, said that "love shows more in deeds than in words." It’s not surprising that we want students to embrace this philosophy, not just in what they say, but more importantly, in what they do.

We want all students to be aware that there are people in need, and we want them to know they can do something about it. We want them to put "men for others" into action and to carry this spirit of service with them throughout their lives. Indeed, Loyola’s mission statement ends with…and prepares them to be men of Christian love, justice, and service who act with integrity, compassion, and courage.

So when do we go about preparing them to be "men for others"? We do this each year, with every grade. This process takes place from the time they walk through the door as freshmen and continues until they graduate four years later. Students hear the phrase "men for others" probably a lot more than they care to, at least initially.

Morning Prayer, which signals the start of each day at 8 a.m. and which is led in a very personal way by a teacher, staff member, or student, reminds us that there are people in need. During the prayer service, students and staff have the opportunity to express personal prayer petitions. Each day many take advantage of this, and everyone comes to share in the concerns expressed by others.

This awareness of people in need is also reinforced with the ever-popular "relaxed dress" days. On these days, welcomed by students and staff alike, members of the Loyola community are allowed to shed their uniforms and don jeans, favorite t-shirts, sweatshirts or jerseys, and gym shoes. We call these relaxed dress days instead of free dress days, because dressing down at Loyola is not free. For the privilege, all who participate must donate $2 for a specific charity. After some initial grumbling, students get into it and gracefully cough up the 2 bucks for a good cause.

At Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Loyola community participated in an "adopt-a-family" program. Using referrals given to Fr. Jim O’Reilly, pastor of St. Peter Claver Catholic Community, students and staff collected canned goods and gifts to make the season just a little brighter for a number of local families.

Then there’s the Martin Luther King Day of Service, which is also discussed on page 9 in this issue of Landmark. This day gives the entire Loyola community the opportunity to actually get out and do something and see the fruits of their labor. The spirit behind this particular day is to honor the life and the legacy of Dr. King.

Jeremy Mitchell prepares boxes of bread for distribution at St. Christine’s Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry.

To reinforce the message of service, teachers weave the notion of care and commitment for others into their everyday teaching. So by the time our students become seniors, they have gotten the idea that we are very serious about the "men for others" emphasis.

Loyola’s emphasis on serving the needs of the community is most evident in the senior-year Christian Service Program, under the direction of Deacon Tim Sullivan. This curriculum-based program is a required component of the 12th grade theology course, and hence a requirement for graduation.

Each senior works 10 hours a week at a designated site in the city for the entire year. This year’s seniors perform their service at one of the following: St. Christine’s Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry, Christ the King Grade School, Gesu Grade School, Hartford Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, St. Peter Claver Warming Annex, and St. Aloysius Warming Center. They are transported to and from their service sites by faculty and staff who offer part of their free time to help facilitate the program.

Terrell Swartz stoops to the level of the 1st graders at Christ the King Grade School.

In addition, each senior is required to participate in the PBJ (peanut butter and jelly) Outreach at least once a semester. This ministry for the marginalized poor and homeless in the Cass Corridor is the creation of Deacon Sullivan. Every Saturday morning, on an empty lot at MLK Drive and Second Avenue, a small army of volunteers distribute food and clothing to over 200 people, regardless of the weather—rain, sleet, snow, and, thank the Lord, sometimes sunshine.
Besides the actual service work, there is a reflective component in the classroom to help students articulate the thoughts and feelings that arise from the experience.

Both staff members and parents can attest that the Christian Service Program is very effective in making students aware of those less fortunate and empowering them to do something about this reality. But the powerful affect this experience has on their lives is best told by the students themselves.

Paris Yates mentors a 2nd grader at Christ the King Grade School.

Paris Yates does his service at Christ the King School. He works with 2nd graders, helping students with their schoolwork. "Working with these kids makes me feel good on the inside. And they really like me—it’s the first time in my life that I have been rushed by, what seems like 200, little people. Feels great!" He added that the way he feels about himself when he’s helping these little ones makes him want to continue helping others after he graduates.

Cameron Knox has a very different experience from that of Paris. He works with the elderly at the Hartford Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Cameron says that after he does odd jobs like updating calendars and the like, he mingles with the residents. "They all like to talk to me about their past. They tell some pretty interesting stories. Listening to them makes me feel like I’m part of their lives, and I look forward to hearing more every week. I honestly feel I am doing a lot of good just by listening to them and being interested in what they say. I think it makes them less lonely, and I feel good being able to do that. They seem happier when they’re talking to me." Cameron says he most definitely will continue looking for opportunities to be of service after he graduates.

Justin Crispen and Charles Dean patiently encourage their 5th grade friends at Gesu Grade School.

Jeremy Mitchell works in the warehouse at St. Christine’s Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry. where he prepares packs food in boxes, sorts shipments, and stocks shelves. "Even though I have a big breakfast at home, whenever I go to my service project, I’m always hungry because I’m surrounded by piles of food. Then I think of where this food is going and about the people who depend on it. I think about them when I get bored, and it makes me work harder and enjoy what I’m doing."

Justin Crispen helps tutor 5th graders at Gesu School. He also helps teachers check papers and make copies when necessary. "I help kids who don’t understand certain concepts, just like my teachers have done with me. I really like the environment—it makes me understand what it feels like to be a ‘man for others.’ It’s great to see these kids succeed and to know that I had something to do with it." Justin says people have helped him along the way, and he wants to continue giving back.

Allen Gaines prepares a tray at the St. Aloysius Warming Center under the supervision of his classmates Kenneth Rupert and Jerome Bomer.

Allen Gaines does his service at the St. Aloysius Warming Center. He notes that there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes on here, such as organizing the food and clothing to be passed out and making the coffee. He says these tasks became very meaningful to him when he actually saw the people who received the food and clothing. "I never thought I would be talking to people in that position. After getting to know some of them, I discovered that they are just like you and me. This has forced me to be nonjudgmental when I see homeless people. In fact, it’s made me nonjudgmental in general. This whole thing has really gotten inside of me and will continue to be a part of me for the rest of my life."

Brandon Nichols helps out right here at Loyola in the St. Peter Claver Warming Annex, where coffee and doughnuts are served to the needy in the neighborhood. He says he does a lot of the set-up and clean-up, while his three co-workers meet and greet the guests. Brandon was a "man for others" before he came to us, noting that he has wanted to help people since he was a little boy, and it’s a major part of his life. He is grateful for the opportunity to perform service and especially likes the Saturday PBJ Outreach and takes part in this ministry on a regular basis. "It’s amazing how it makes me feel to help people. I strongly believe that helping people gives them hope. I will always want to do this."

Randall Nichols, brother of Brandon, also works in the St. Peter Claver Warming Annex. He helps greet and serve the people in need who come in for a hot cup of coffee and doughnuts. "This experience gives me a sense of feeling good about myself. But more important, I have learned to appreciate the things I have and not take anything for granted. I am so lucky to be in a position to help others, and I will continue to do this after I graduate."

Through the years, we have witnessed noticeable growth and maturity in so many of our young men because of this program. Some of them come to us a bit goofy and silly, self-centered, and with a variety of problems and insecurities. We have seen them go beyond all these to become young men who really believe they can make a difference by what they do. We have seen them become caring and committed to a larger population—caring even about others who may be different from themselves—and committed to making this a better world.

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