Campus Ministry

I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

Campus Ministry is a school wide program designed to foster spirituality, community, and service among students, faculty, staff, and administration. Our hope is to meet each person “where they are” in order to grow in his or her faith.

The Office for Campus Ministry has a variety of programs that reach a wide range of students and other members of our community.

Prayer, Worship, Retreat

As a school, we gather to celebrate our faith and community through Mass, school prayer services, class prayer services, and responses to community and world events. We work closesly with our Chaplain, Fr. Andrew Nelson, to support our students on their faith journey, knowing that such a journey looks diffrent for each individual.

The retreat program is an essential part of the communal and spiritual experience at St. Thomas Aquinas. Through participating in a retreat, students are able to deepen both their personal spirituality and their relationships with classmates and faculty.

  • Mass is celebrated almost monthly and affords the opportunity to come together as a faith community. In addition to being present for the liturgy, students are encouraged to take a more active role in the liturgy through music ministry, reading scripture, bringing up the gifts, processing in with the cross and candles, altar serving and other opportunities.
  • Class Retreats: Retreats are offered at each grade level, meeting students where they are on their faith journey. Beyond class retreats, we offer many other opportunities for students to be engaged in faith and community.
  • The Chapel is always available for prayer, reflection, or just a quiet moment in a hectic day.

Service

When students graduate from St. Thomas Aquinas High School, we hope that they have developed a deeper commitment to service for God and for others. Each student participates in a personal community service project as part of his/her Theology requirement. Beyond that, several local and global opportunities for service are offered throughout the year including:

  • Monthly Charity Dress Down Days (CDDD) in which students pay to be out of dress code with funds raised going to designated organizations that help those in need.
  • Assisting local families in need with the Catholic Charities Christmas Drive.
  • The annual Canned Food Drive to benefit Lazarus House Ministries in Lawrence, MA.
  • Annual events including Breast Cancer Walk, Apple Harvest Fair, Run for God and many more opportunities

For a description of the current Community Service Program and its requirements for each grade level, please click here.

To access and print a Community Service Evaluation Form, please click here.

Leadership

Leadership Development is an important component of our mission at St. Thomas Aquinas. It is our goal to help students and faculty recognize the gifts they have been given and inspire them to use those gifts in service and leadership.

  • The Peer Ministry Team is comprised of 20-30 students who plan and facilitate meetings, prayer services, icebreakers, small groups, and retreats. These students participate in a three-day retreat experience in summer, and participate in a weekly course “Leadership in Ministry” to learn skills essential to ministry with young people in our world today.
  • Senior Leadership is an opportunity for rising seniors to set individual and class goals, and build community. Students involved will help facilitate Freshmen Jumpstart and Freshmen Retreat. All seniors are invited to participate in Senior Leadership Night, an evening retreat in late August.

Community

  • Monthly Meetings: These often lively meetings are a staple of Campus Ministry. There is singing, games, small group discussion, and prayer. Once a month Campus Ministry hosts a pancake breakfast, and a guest speaker leads a discussion. This is a great way to get to know new people and grow in faith! Students do not need to sign up for Campus Ministry. They can just show up to the meetings they can make.
  • Community Gatherings: We occasionally take time for gatherings such as holiday potluck dinners, movies, and lunches.
  • Rosary