LIVING THE FAITH HOURS AND SERVICE HOURS
Living the Faith Hours, allow the students to put their faith into practice through volunteer work in the community. In this way, students come to understand that they can encounter Jesus Christ not only in the scriptures and the liturgy, but also, for instance, in the elderly, the sick, and the poor. In addition, the program challenges students to learn about their community and its needs while evoking a sense of responsibility for spreading the Gospel. There is a rich diversity of parish and community service opportunities in the Champaign-Urbana area to accommodate the interests and gifts of all students.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIVING THE FAITH?
The ultimate purpose of these hours of service is to help students realize that their faith should not be confined to the church or chapel but should permeate every aspect of their lives such that faith becomes the guiding principle of every action. Living the Faith is one way in which this objective is measured.
WHAT EXACTLY IS EXPECTED OF THE STUDENT?
Before students can be eligible to graduate, they must demonstrate a living faith by documenting 120 hours of service (25 hours as a Freshman, 35 hours as both a Sophomore and Junior, and 25 hours as Senior). Transfer students are usually required to perform a lesser amount and should consult with the chaplain.
HOW ARE LIVING THE FAITH HOURS AND SERVICE HOURS COUNTED?
While there are many different examples of how we are called to Live the Faith and Serve our neighbors, the purpose of these hours is to help each student to begin to live his/her faith daily. The following table does not exhaust the opportunities in the Champaign-Urbana community, but is meant to serve as an example of how hours will be counted.
Each student’s total hours may be comprised of any combination of the three columns or solely from Living the Faith Hours column.
Living the Faith Hours | Service Hours (@STM)*Total Hours cannot exceed 15-hours/year | Service Hours (in the Community)*Total hours cannot exceed 20-hours/year |
Spiritual / Corporal Work of Mercy | Managing a sports team | Volunteering at Community events |
Campus Ministry [March for Life, LOGOS, etc.] | Assisting with the Music and Theater Department | Volunteering in Community businesses |
Parish Apostolates / CU-Youth | Assisting with extracurriculars | Volunteering at Sports Camps (i.e. FCA Day Camp) |
HOW ARE THESE HOURS TO BE DOCUMENTED?
The documentation of hours is done on an app called Mobile Serve. It is accessible online and on mobile devices. Each student will have their own account to track their progress.
The app can be found here: https://app.mobileserve.com/login/?next=/
**For new students or incoming freshmen once you receive your office school email from STM, you can create your profile. Please wait until you receive an email from Mobile Serve to create your profile.
