Catholic Charities Boston, Archdiocese of Boston Catholic Schools Office Host Student Service Summit

More than 100 students representing secondary schools across the Archdiocese of Boston gathered on Thursday, Oct. 1, for a first-of-its-kind summit to discuss the role service plays in their Catholic education, consider the impact service has on the community, learning about ways to engage in service with Catholic Charities, and complete a service project. 

Catholic Charities Boston and the Archdiocese of Boston Catholic Schools Office partnered to convene the inaugural Catholic Schools Service 

Summit, held at Cathedral High School in Boston’s South End. Fifteen of the Archdiocese’s 22 secondary schools were represented. 

“I am incredibly excited to see all of you here because I know you were chosen to be in this space today because adults in your community saw your leadership potential and your vision for how things can be different in the world,” Eileen McLaughin, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, said to the students.

The event featured remarks from Catholic Charities leadership and an opening prayer by Catholic Charities trustee the Rev. John Currie. The students also heard from Catholic Memorial alumnus and current University of Massachusetts Amherst student Jack Greene, who served more than 60 volunteer hours at Catholic Charities Yawkey Center during his senior year of high school.

Throughout the day, students participated in small-group discussions with peers from different schools, sharing service experiences that mattered to them and examples of how their school does service well. 

“(This work) challenges us to learn about ourselves and our communities, and it reminds us that every person deserves dignity, opportunity, and a sense of belonging,” said Jonathan Terault, Catholic Charities Boston’s Vice President for Economic Empowerment. “It really allows us to see their humanity in a very personal way.”  

The students not only talked about service, but they also did service. Together they assembled hundreds of hygiene kits, which include toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and lotion, that Catholic Charities will distribute through its Basic Needs program. 

“Service is an important way we learn about the world and understand the impact of the choices we make,” said Christine Keller, Director of Food Pantries for Catholic Charities Boston. 

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Catholic Charities Boston, click here.