Do you enjoy volunteering and giving back to your community? Are you interested in doing service once a week and taking a break from traditional learning inside a classroom? Then the Theology of Service class is the class for you!

The Theology of Service class is a senior elective that can fill the religion class requirement. Mr. Darmody has taught the course for three years. In order to apply, students must provide a letter of recommendation from a previous religious studies teacher, a short essay explaining their interest in the class, and the Dean of Students’ signature. Once a week, Theology of Service students walk with their “pod”, a designated group of two to three students, to their service sites, which are generally a few blocks away. The students volunteer at their site then return back to school. It’s as if the students have a mini field trip every week! On the days that students do not go to their service sites, class is held in a classroom back at school, just like any other religion class at SHC.

What exactly do we do at service sites, you ask? Well, there are a number of service sites students visit that participate in various activities. For example, I volunteer at a service site called First Avenues, which is a housing program that serves homeless families and families most at risk of becoming homeless. GeAnna Summers ‘14 and I complete odd jobs for the employees to make their jobs easier. For example, we organize winter jackets, decorate the office with holiday decorations, and sanitize toys, which are provided for children to play with while they’re at the office. Other service sites include Project Open Hand, the Living Room, De Marillac Academy, the Eastern Park Apartments and the Tenderloin Community School.

Overall, I definitely recommend taking Theology of Service. Not only does it embody SHC’s motto “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve”, but it also allows students to stand out on their college applications. Not all high schools have service classes like SHC does, and students should take advantage of the fact that opportunities to serve are found in close proximity of our own campus!

If you are a junior interested in taking this class your senior year or you have any further questions, feel free to talk to Mr. Darmody or any of the Theology of Service students!