This page will be updated periodically with service opportunities that are available to high school students and their families. Please let the CYM Office know if you are aware of something that could be shared on this page!

Confirmation students: Service is a component of your Confirmation prep. 5 hours are to be spent on service to a marginalized population and 5 hours are to be spent serving at St. Louis Parish. You are to provide a reflection when you are finished. See the Components-Paperwork page for more information.

Service Opportunities Outside of St. Louis

The following opportunities require parent  presence or validation as it is outside of CYM’s purview:

Service Opportunities Within St. Louis Parish Community

The following opportunities are coordinated with the St. Louis CYM Office and are considered in-parish service:

  • Italian Dinner March 8-10, 2019. CYM’s biggest fundraising and community-building event of the year! Requires over 300 volunteers to make it happen. Sign up here: http://www.stlouisparish.org/cym/italian-dinner/. No permission form required.
  • Sweets and Service (ongoing) Weekend baking events benefiting local organizations. Coordinated by Lauren Sprankle. No permission form required. Contact Pat for more information and future dates.
  • Nursing Home Visits (ongoing)  Catechist Joe VanderGracht Organizes weekend Nursing Home Visits || 3 Saturdays a month (can go on any Saturday, does not have to be 3 consecutive Saturdays) || leaving St. Louis at 9:30am and returning at noon || Contact Joe VanderGracht for more details or to sign up–  jvander@comcast.net. Requires permission form.
  • Grass Roots  (ongoing)– Dorothy Howard 410-531-6006, dorothyh@grassrootscrisis.org
    Prepare sandwiches and lunch items for the dining room. Requires permission form, downloadable here: http://www.stlouisparish.org/cym/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/BRUNCH-Permission-Forms.pdf

This is the schedule to serve Brunch at Grassroots for spring 2019:
April 7th – Contact Mrs. Hamilton
April 28th – Contact Mrs. Caddigan — FULL!
May 5th – Contact Mrs. Krein
May 19th – Contact Mrs. Hamilton
June 2 – Contact Mrs. Krein
June 16- Contact Mrs. Caddigan

  • Vacation Bible School || July 15-19, 2019 || Click Here for More Details 
  • Clarksville Picnic June 29, 2019. Always the last Saturday in June, rain or shine! The parish’s biggest community building event of the year.Opportunities begin in June with the White Elephant Sale. CYM holds a picnic camp the week before the picnic to help set up. Many opportunities to volunteer on picnic day! Look for sign ups in late Spring.

Frequently Asked Questions about Confirmation Service

Q. If I did service before starting the Confirmation process, can I count it towards Confirmation service hours?
A. We ask that candidates do service hours during the Confirmation preparation period (Jan-Sept of this year) so that they can reflect on why the service is intentional preparation for Confirmation — Why is it important? How did they grow in faith through this service? How is it bearing witness to the Gospel? In addition, we ask that outside-parish hours are in direct service to a vulnerable community so it most closely correlates with the Corporal Works of Mercy.
Q. Do I need to have their service supervisor sign off on their form?
A. There is no need to have supervisor signature to document hours worked. Parents should verify and sign off that the hours stated are true. The most important part is honest and intentional service in preparation for the sacrament.
Q. Why is it imporant to do in-parish hours?
A. The saying “charity begins at home” tells us that love begins with those nearest to us. Our parish is our home base so it’s important to give back here, in addition to the wider community.
Q. Why 10 hours?
A. We ask that 5 hours are in-parish, and 5 hours serve the wider community. We consider 5 hours the minimal time to reflect on an experience prayerfully, and hopefully discover a service you can be passionate about doing more of in the future.
Q. Why so many forms?!
A. We’d like to know that you 1) did the service we asked of you, and 2) know how your service experience impacted your faith journey towards Confirmation. You may choose to turn in your service card (by your first class in September) OR (new this year!!) you may send me a link to a video or written blog reflection instead of filling out the card. Whichever medium works best for you. If you choose to send a video or blog link, send to: lpalting@stlouisparish.org by Sept. 8. And make sure you answer these questions:
  • What did you do at St. Louis and how did you grow in faith through this experience? (Was there a particular person or situation that impacted you?)
  • What did you do to serve the wider community and how did you grow in faith through this experience? (Was there a particular person or situation that impacted you?) Can you correlate this with a Corporal Work of Mercy?
  • Why do you think Service is a necessary component for Confirmation prep?