Religion 1- Caritas Christi Project

We are excited to announce the Caritas Christi Project for all students in Religion 1.
This year's service project has been modified to be an at-home/school-based project where students will reach out to communities affected most during this challenging year. The project has been adapted so that both virtual and in-person students can participate together. Students can work on the project independently and will also have some opportunity to work together with other students through their Religion and English classes. In this email, you will find the instructions that will be given to Religion 1 students in their classes the week of March 1.

What is the Religion 1 Service Project?
At SMCHS, each grade level has a service project. Students in Religion 1 work on the Caritas Christi Project. The project's goal is to introduce SM students to the heart of our community’s charism Caritas Christi, the love of Christ. Students learn about Jesus’ particular care and outreach to communities and people that are vulnerable and marginalized. They are given the opportunity to reflect on the question that will guide their experience of service, “How can I reflect the love of Jesus in my community?” For more information about the SM Christian service program and requirements, you can visit the Christian Service webpage on SM’s website.
This year the students in Religion 1 will be partnering with the Love for Our Elders Organization. Love for Our Elders is a national organization that provides messages of love and hope to folks in a variety of elder care communities through a network of volunteers. Each student will complete 20 letters to send to Love for our Elders that will be distributed to seniors all over the county.

How should I make the Letters?
Each Letter Should Include:
  • A hand-decorated front cover
  • A handwritten note, legible writing with BIG print (Love for Our Elders does not accept any typed notes)
  • A thoughtful activity (wordsearch, crossword, game of some kind, poem song, lyrics)
  • Each note can be placed in an UNMARKED, UNSEALED envelope
  • Signed by you (FIRST NAME ONLY)
  • Lots of creativity, uplifting and thoughtful messaging!
  • Supplies you can use- Stickers, cardstock, scrapbook paper, construction paper, drawing or painting art supplies.

Letters Should NOT include:
  • Identifying information (Where you go to school, what state you live in, your last name, phone number or email address)
  • The date - These letters are sometimes saved to be distributed throughout the whole year
  • 20 copies of the exact same card/message (Please use your thoughtfulness and creativity!)
  • Work that is rushed or sloppy
  • Supplies you CANNOT use- lined notebook paper, pastels, chalk (or any other art supply that smears or does not dry), glitter


How do I log service hours for my letters?
  • You are responsible for making 20 letters. Each letter can get logged as one “hour” in MobileServe.
  • You can log all 20 together or submit them in smaller groups as you work on them.
Where do I go if I need help or have questions?
If you need help, have questions, or if getting supplies to make letters is a financial difficulty and you would like some resources contact Ms. Stutzke. You can reach by sending a teams message, sending an email to stutzkec@smhs.org, or coming to the Campus Ministry office on the first floor of the G building!