Eucharistic Minister Application Campus Ministry Purpose and Goals Campus Ministry at Bellarmine fosters a faith community that ministers to students, faculty, staff and administration. The Campus Ministry staff hopes to strengthen this faith community by providing opportunities for those it serves to respond to the call of Jesus Christ. Through its programs and team members, Campus Ministry enables members of the Bellarmine community to recognize their own gifts to serve others. Campus Ministry s goals are to: Foster the love and care for individuals Share the Gospel message and promote Christian values Build and strengthen the faith community Celebrate the life of the Holy Spirit Campus Ministry strives to prepare students for the future who are challenged to be open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving and committed to doing justice in the service of God and neighbor. Eucharistic Ministers For 2014-15 School Year Application Deadline The completed application and accompanying documents must be turned in to Annette Michalson no later than May 24, 2014 Expectations and Guidelines for Eucharistic Ministers 1. Read the application packet in its entirety before beginning. You may apply to serve as a Eucharistic Minister or Lector, but not both. 2. By May 24 please submit a verification of participation in your local parish. This form may be signed by your parish priest, associate pastor, youth minister or director of religious education. A prepared letter requesting this information is included in this packet. Please write your name on the form and give it to one of the aforementioned as soon as possible. It may be attached to your application or sent by mail directly to Bellarmine. 3. You need three faculty referrals. The forms are included in this packet. Ask each faculty member to return the referral form directly to Mrs. Michalson s faculty mail box before May 24. 4. Complete the application packet and give to Mrs. Michalson before the end of the school day on May 24. Make sure both your own statement and your parents letter are included. 5. Please note that there will be a half-day mandatory retreat either at the end of August or the beginning of September. The date will be announced before we leave for summer vacation. 6. Include in your application packet a written plan for 15 hours of community service to be completed during the summer months and/or before the end of first semester. 7. By choosing to be a Eucharistic Minister, you are choosing to make community and spiritual development a committed priority. This requires a clearly responsible commitment of time. School schedules, activities, jobs, car-pools, and outside commitments/responsibilities need to be taken into consideration before taking on an additional commitment. 8. Eucharistic Ministers are required to attend Friday Masses, and to gather with the E.M. s for either Mass, prayer and reflection, business meetings, recreation, or service. Ministers are also expected to be watchful of the daily bulletins and community period mail for possible communication regarding schedules and upcoming needs in the community. 9. Eucharistic Ministers are expected to worship with their own parish communities each Sunday/weekend. 10. Eucharistic Ministers are required to abstain from alcohol and other drug use. (See Student Code for Campus Ministry.) The Eucharistic Ministers are expected to model the religious goals and ideals of Bellarmine Prep to the best of their ability throughout the year. 11. Each of the following indicates an inability to fulfill Eucharistic Minister expectations: Missing Friday school Liturgy three times Missing E.M. meetings, shared prayer times, and service times within the group Neglecting to fulfill the 15 hour service requirement Neglecting to communicate regularly, when needed, concerning absences, schedules, E.M. needs, etc. with the advisor Behavior in or out of school unbecoming to a model Bellarmine Prep student that is inconsistent with the religious ideals of the school community Inappropriate dress code for serving at Mass Continued Page 1 of 2
Eucharistic Minister Application Application Form (Please Print) Name Address City Zip Phone Class Next Year: junior senior Parish Confirmation Date or Projected Date Your application packet should include the following items stapled to this form. Please check off each item as you complete the requirement. 1. The attached form from one of the following: parish priest, associate pastor, youth minister or religious education director signed and stating that you are a member of the parish. Stapled to this form In the mail 2. A recommendation form from 3 teachers (excluding the Campus Minister and the Eucharistic Minister Coordinator). A letter from at least one parent. These letters should affirm your readiness to take on this public liturgical ministry. Three teacher recommendations (see teacher recommendation form) Letter from a parent 3. Write a paragraph describing your initial ideas for community service hours. The hours may be done through your parish, a church agency or some other cause which will be at least 15 hours total. At least ten hours must be completed by the end of the first semester of the school year. Paragraph describing possible service hours 4. Respond to the following questions on separate paper stapled to this application. Answers to questions see next column Questions 1. Describe your relationship with Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church, and the faith community here at Bellarmine. 2. Why do you want to be a Eucharistic Minister? 3. By choosing to be a Eucharistic Minister, you are choosing to make community development a priority; therefore, you will be required to participate in each Friday Liturgy and in a few other activities chosen by your group. You are also expected to participate in Sunday Liturgy in your parish. Please comment on your ability to fulfill these commitments throughout the school year. 4. Eucharistic Ministers must be baptized Roman Catholics and are expected to either be already confirmed or enrolled in a confirmation program during the coming school year. Please comment on your own situation. I have answered all of the above questions and have read the Student Code for Campus Ministry. Page 2 of 2
May, 2014 Dear Parish Minister or Youth Leader, has applied to be a Eucharistic Minister with Campus Ministry at Bellarmine Preparatory School. We are looking for spiritually active, confirmed or about to be confirmed young people who exhibit an active commitment to their parish, as well as their high school. I would like to request verification from you that he/she is a member of your parish and is already confirmed, or is planning to be confirmed next year. Please complete the form below and either give it to the student for their application packet or mail it to me at Bellarmine. I sincerely appreciate your time in this process, especially at this pressing time of year. I hope to have your reply no later than May 24. If you have any further questions or concerns, I may be reached at (253) 756-3849, at Bellarmine. Thank you for your continued support in our effort to prepare young adults to serve the Church and their community. Sincerely, Annette Michalson Eucharistic Minister Coordinator Campus Ministry is a member of Parish. He / She has been confirmed? Yes No (signature) www.bellarmineprep.org
Eucharistic Minister Teacher Recommendation Form TO: FROM: RE: Teacher Eucharistic Ministers Coordinator Recommendation For Please evaluate the student on the following criteria and sign your recommendation. Check the boxes appropriate to this student. Excellent Good Fair Poor Commitment to follow Bellarmine s philosophy for behavior... Commitment to his/her faith in Jesus... Ability to follow through on commitments... Capacity for serving others... ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: PLEASE PUT IN ANNETTE MICHALSON S MAIL BOX BY MAY 24. THANK YOU. Faculty Signature www.bellarmineprep.org
Bellarmine Preparatory School Student Code for Campus Ministry Involvement in Campus Ministry is voluntary. This participation, however, requires a commitment on the part of the student to abide by the goals and philosophies of the school and Campus Ministry. Humility, integrity, and the imitation of Christ are cornerstones of such positions of Christian responsibility for ministry at Bellarmine. Therefore, the following code has been adopted for those students who are selected as student leaders and liturgical ministers for all Campus Ministry programs, retreats and activities. Student Leaders A student leader is a junior or senior who is accepted as a member of junior crew on all retreats, team/crew leaders on the Encounters, the Pilgrimage, and the Magis retreats. These positions are short term, and last approximately two months or less in service to the Bellarmine student body. A student leader is in violation of the Campus Ministry Code when s/he uses or possesses tobacco products, alcohol, or controlled substances, or any substance purported to be such, except drugs prescribed by a physician or other person authorized to prescribe drugs for the personal use by the student. A student leader is in violation of the code when s/he remains present where illegal drugs and/or alcohol are being used. Failure to leave any such function in a reasonable and prudent amount of time constitutes a violation of the code. First Offense: The student leader forfeits his/her position in Campus Ministry and is referred to the Student Assistance Program. Second Offense: The student will forfeit his/her participation as a leader in Campus Ministry, is referred to the Student Assistance Program, and is prohibited from all leadership and/or liturgical minister positions for nine school months from the date of the offense. Third Offense: The student will be prohibited from service as a Campus Ministry leader or Liturgical Minister for the remainder of his/her years at Bellarmine. Liturgical Ministers/Faith in Formation Team Leaders A student Liturgical Minister serves as a Lector or Eucharistic Minister for the Bellarmine community for one school year. A Faith in Formation (FiF) Team Leader serves the Faith in Formation program for the Bellarmine community for one school year. Liturgical Ministers and FiF Team Leaders are in violation of the Campus Ministry Code when they use or possess tobacco products, alcohol, or controlled substances, or any substance purported to be such, except drugs prescribed by a physician or other persons authorized to prescribe drugs for the personal use by the student. In addition, a student is in violation of the Campus Ministry Code when s/he remains present where illegal drugs and/or alcohol are being used. Failure to leave any such function in a reasonable and prudent amount of time constitutes a violation of the code. First Offense: The student merits a suspension for eight weeks and is referred to Student Assistance. Second Offense: The student merits removal from that ministry as well as other leadership positions in Campus Ministry (as explained above) for the period of nine school months from the date of the offense, and is referred to Student Assistance. Third Offense: The student is prohibited from participation as a student leader/liturgical Minister for the remainder of his/her years at Bellarmine. Being selected as a student leader in Campus Ministry, whether short or long term, is one of servantleadership. Students serving in Campus Ministry roles commit themselves fully to obeying the school regulations as stated in the Bellarmine Handbook and in the Campus Ministry Code. Students who are removed from leadership/ministry are eligible to reapply for positions in Campus Ministry the following school year. This applies to first and second offense students only. Revised 4.15.13