Marianist Mission Program
Educating for Service, Justice & Peace
The Gross Catholic Marianist Mission Program promotes and creates leaders in the Marianist tradition. Students are educated for service, justice and peace by offering their time and talents in service to God and others. The Marianist Mission Program promotes growth in discipleship and responsibility while encouraging students to become active Christian leaders who help transform our community. Each Gross Catholic student will be required to complete a minimum of 25 Marianist Mission Program hours each year.
How does the Marianist Mission Program work?
- Each student is expected to complete a minimum of 25 hours per year.
- All students are required to complete and turn-in their hours via the Marianist Mission Log Form no later than the Friday before the Cougar Cup/Field Day . Students who fail to complete this process by the deadline will not be considered for honor-based awards or activities. Students will also not be allowed to participate in Cougar Cup. They will instead spend the day in service.
- To receive credit for their participation in an approved Marianist Mission Program activity, students must complete their Marianist Mission Program Log Form on a smartphone or other device within 24 hours of completing the service. The Marianist Mission Program Log Form can also be found on the Marianist Mission Program Google Classroom. Please review the form prior to your service engagement to make sure all form requirements are met.
As a school working to educate for compassion and leadership, we are dedicated to modelling and assisting students with their Marianist Mission hours. Faculty/staff will work alongside our students to complete some of the required service. In addition, students will report back to their peers about their service experience and share resources that will assist their peers in future service projects.
- 2 Freshman Mission Days will be coordinated by Campus Ministry to be completed at the end of July/beginning of August. These opportunities are not required, but are encouraged as the purpose of these Mission Days are two-fold: care for our larger community and making new friends at Gross Catholic. Each Freshman Mission Day will count as 4 hours of service.
- July 13 and August 7 will be the dates of the 2019 Freshman Mission Days
- 2 Sophomore Mission Days will be coordinated by Campus Ministry to be completed at the end of July/beginning of August. These opportunities are not required, but are encouraged. Each Sophomore Mission Day will count as 4 hours of service.
- July 13 and August 7 will be the dates of the 2019 Sophomore Mission Days
- Cougars on a Mission Day will take place during Homecoming Week. All students, faculty, and staff will work at various service locations around the Omaha metro. Students will sign-up for a service location in advance. Service locations/activities will be coordinated by Campus Ministry. Attendance at Cougars on a Mission Day is required and counts as a regular day of school. Service conducted on this day will count for 6 hours of service. Additionally, students will be required to complete a reflection on their work. Completion of this reflection will count as an additional 2 hours of service.
- The theme of the Junior Retreat is Servant Leadership. All juniors will complete 4 hours of service while on their class retreat.
- Senior Theology students will complete 10 hours of service as part of their fall semester Catholic Social Teaching Theology class.
The list below illustrates the breakdown of hours per grade should a student take advantage of the community-planned service opportunities.
Freshmen
- Freshman Mission Days – 4 hours per day for a total of 8 hours
- Cougars on a Mission Day – 6 hours plus 2 additional hours for reflection
- Service on-your-own – 9 hours
Sophomores
- Sophomore Mission Days – 4 hours per day for a total of 8 hours
- Cougars on a Mission Day – 6 hours plus 2 additional hours for reflection
- Service on-your-own – 9 hours
Juniors
- Cougars on a Mission Day – 6 hours plus 2 additional hours for reflection
- Junior Retreat – 4 hours
- Service on-your-own – 13 hours
Seniors
- Cougars on a Mission Day – 6 hours plus 2 additional hours for reflection
- Senior Theology project – 10 hours
- Service on-your-own – 7 hours
Should a student or parent have any questions regarding the process they should contact the Principal.
Gross Catholic High School Administration reserves the right to determine appropriate implementation of Marianist Mission Program.
What constitutes service for the Marianist Mission Program?
Your “service on-your-own” hours can be achieved as follows:
- A maximum of 5 hours can come from Gross Catholic (either a school sponsored event or an event that takes place at Gross Catholic H.S.)
- The remaining hours can come from any other community organization outside of Gross Catholic. Students may not count time given to family members for any service.
- Gross Catholic will continue to advertise service opportunities on the Marianist Mission Program Google Classroom, as well as in the monthly newsletters and at our All-school Masses and prayer services.
What happens if I don’t complete my Marianist Mission Program hours on-time?
Any Gross Catholic student who does not complete all 25 of his/her hours by the designated due date (the Friday prior to Cougar Cup Day) will not be allowed to participate in Cougar Cup and will instead spend that day in service.
In addition, any student who does not complete all 25 of his/her hours will not be considered for honor-based awards or activities, including but not limited to National Honor Society, Student Council, LIFE Core Team, SALT, Student Ambassadors, and end of the year honor/leadership awards.
All hours completed will be noted on student’s official transcripts.