Campus Ministry
SPIRIT IN MOTION. JOY IN SERVICE.
Campus Ministry at Roselle Catholic High School is not a club, but rather an invitation to our entire school community – students, especially, but faculty and parents, as well – to participate in our activities, an invitation that the majority of our school community responds to with a resounding "Yes." Major events in the Campus Ministry calendar include the class retreats at Esopus, liturgies for the church seasonal holy days, and various community service projects throughout the year.
Our philosophy is simple: we are all spiritual beings, no matter what our religious persuasion. We hold to the basic tenet that because we are all children of one God, we are brothers and sisters to each other. As such, we must love one another, and try to care for each other, especially those less fortunate. Thus, our activities seek to instill in all participants the belief that it is only through us - through our eyes and our ears and our hands - that God’s work can be done, that God’s love can be present in our world. Campus Ministry is built on three major areas: retreat, prayer and service.
RETREATS
Retreats are offered for all four years. They are an optional, but very popular part of life at Roselle Catholic. We use the Marist Brothers Retreat House in Esopus, NY, right on the Hudson River, a beautiful spot to which our students always want to return.
Freshman Esopus
One of the major concerns in the successful transition to high school is the making of new friends. Before the first full day of classes, all incoming freshmen are invited to participate in the Esopus weekend, giving them the opportunity to meet their classmates, some of the upperclassmen and many of the faculty. Through organized games, activities and discussions, our new Freshmen begin to bond as a class and individual friendships are able to be formed. Upon returning home, students now have the ability to recognize new friends as they enter classes or the cafeteria. This program continues to be not only formative, but also most impressionable. Our upperclassmen continue to confirm that friendships made during this weekend last throughout their high school years.
Sophomore Retreat
During the fall semester of Sophomore year, students are given the opportunity to more fully explore the concepts of friendship on a deeper spiritual level. It is a chance to examine knowledge of self and peer relationships. Guided by upperclassmen and faculty, students come to a better understanding of human relationships.
Junior Retreat
In Junior year, the retreat program continues with a spiritual look at Relationships, specifically the one-on-one love relationships that help form the basis of future commitments. In a combination of light activities and serious discussion, a thought-provoking dialogue is begun. Participants are encouraged to continue this dialogue, upon returning home, with parents, faculty and other significant adults in their lives.
Senior Retreat
During the spring semester of the Senior year, the issue of “Transition” is once again at the forefront for Seniors preparing to move on to college. Students are invited for one last trip to Esopus, to honor the experiences they’ve come through together, and to look ahead to the future. This retreat is a chance for Seniors to explore together their doubts and fears, recount the strengths and wisdom they’ve gained from each other, as they discuss and share their excitement and anticipation about the future.
Marist Youth
Encounter Christ
Open to those in the junior and senior year, Encounter is a program of deeper four day retreats, with students from the other Marist schools in the NY/NJ area. The Encounter Retreat is held three times a year; Roselle Catholic usually brings 10-12 students to each of these retreats.
Marist Youth Leadership Camp
Open to those in the sophomore and junior year. The Leadership Camp is a four day program with students from other Marist schools across the country. It is held during the first week of August. The students learn important leadership skills and how to lead retreat weekends. Roselle Catholic can bring up to 10 students to this.
PRAYER
Every day begins with prayer over the PA. In conjunction with our Religion Department, we work to help each student explore, develop and experience spiritual growth. During the course of the year, Campus Ministry provides a variety of liturgical experiences. School-wide prayer services are offered at the opening of school, Thanksgiving, Ash Wednesday and other appropriate religious occasions. Liturgy of the Eucharist is offered for our Junior Ring Ceremony and Senior Baccalaureate. During the weeks of Advent and Lent, class liturgies and special events are scheduled. We also conduct communion services each morning in the chapel, which are open to the entire school community. In all of these, students play a major part in the planning, as well as participating as readers, leaders of song and dance.
Adolescence is a time of tremendous self-examination and self-centeredness, a necessary process through which all children must go. However, that self-absorption can be too much at times. Students who get involved in Campus Ministry and other service projects are helped to keep a balance, to see that there are other perspectives on life, and that it is important to work to help others, even in small ways.
Service Activities
Service activities include Christmas toy collection, Thanksgiving food drive, blood drives and more. We have an on-going relationship with the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, St. Joseph Social Service Center and Mercy House.
Our Summer Service Days see over 100 students come back to RC for the first three days of summer vacation, to be sent out to various agencies and private homes to help with clean-up, painting, sorting food and helping wherever needed. We hope to continue this tradition this year.
La Valla Weekend
La Valla Weekend is a service based retreat at the Marist Brother Center at Esopus. It is a four day retreat in October focused on educating the students on real world problems and doing various service projects around the property. Roselle Catholic takes 5 students on this service weekend and joins together with other Marist schools across the USA.
Mid-Hudson Valley Camp
Over the summer the Marist Brothers Center at Esopus hosts the Mid-Hudson Valley Camps that are home to many campers over the summer. The camps are geared towards individuals with developmental, mental and physical disabilities, deaf children, children living with cancer, and inner-city students. The purpose of the camps is to give the campers a fun week-long experience with various activities, time to enjoy nature, and give them a safe and comfortable environment.
Roselle Catholic students volunteer some of their weeks during the summer to help the various Mid-Hudson Valley Camps. As well as our RC alumni come back to volunteer at the camps after they graduate.
Athletic Retreats
Campus Ministry offers a new program for athletic teams to grow closer as a team as well as their faith. An athletic retreat consists of team building activities, witness talks giving by captains and a chance to write a team prayer that can be used throughout the season.
