OUTREACH Service Projects

St. Pope John Paul II recognized that a "Catholic school has the opportunity and obligation to be "oriented to Christian service" because it helps students acquire skills, virtues and habits of heart and mind required for effective service to others." Saint Denis-Saint Columba School acknowledges both the opportunity and obligation to serve others.  Showing our love for others takes many forms.  It can be as simple as an older student assisting a younger student.  It can also be a coordinated, school-wide effort such as these recent projects:

How Many Beds Can We Build?

The St. Joseph's Men's Group of St. Columba Parish gave a presentation about their ministry work of building beds for persecuted Christians who recently have immigrated to New York.  The St. Denis - St. Columba students held a school-wide coin drive and raised hundreds of dollars to buy materials to build new beds.

St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry Donations

Our students toured the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry operated by St. Columba Parish.  The students then brought in non-perishable food items to fill the food pantry.

Senior Citizen Lunch and Concert

St. Denis-St. Columba School hosted and served lunch to area senior citizens.  Our students performed songs from their upcoming Christmas Concert as entertainment.

Advent Outreach

Each year, St. Denis-St. Columba school families voluntarily select local needy children for whom to purchase Christmas gifts.  Our Outreach Program works to provide each child with a gift that fulfill a "need" and grants a "want."  Our students joyfully wrap the gifts for the needy children in their classrooms.

Showers of Gratitude

Our students are taught that service to others does not always require donations of money or material things.  Service to others can include sharing a prayer, saying kind words to another and writing something thoughtful.  This activity asked for students to express gratitude to someone deserving in their lives.

Feeding Our Neighbors Lunch

Students decorated paper bags with inspirational notes to the hungry in our community.  Then they filled the bags with a bagel lunch.