"to serve...not to be served"
At St. Croix Catholic, we strive to model ourselves in all things after the person of Jesus Christ "who came to serve, not to be served" (Matthew 20:28). Our mission, to form scholars, disciples, and servant leaders, is intentional in this formation.
Beginning in the Fall with our annual "Service Marathon" tied to our Marathon fundraiser in which students are challenged to complete 26 acts of age-appropriate service. For three weeks, our students engage in simple acts of service recognizing they are imitating Christ who serves us daily and shows us His kindness and mercy. The Service Marathon includes large community-wide service projects as well. This year, students and their families chose to give back to our supporting parishes by assisting at St. Mary's Wild Rice Festival, Sister Parish Pig Roast, Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast, and hosted an Appreciation Reception after the annual Eucharistic Procession. Students in K-2 entertained residents at Linden Nursing home with a beautiful uplifting vocal performance.
On a regular basis, our young servant leaders serve at funeral masses and help clean up after funeral luncheons. They serve as sacristans, musicians, and mass buddies and reading buddies to younger students. They teach religion topics to younger students and lead the annual All-School Faith Rally.
Our middle school leaders befriend the elderly at Linden Nursing Home, organize food shelf drives, serve as crossing guards, and adopt families at Christmas time. They assist in tidying up preschool and elementary classrooms and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atriums.
They are often seen volunteering at school and parish events, such as: open houses, pancake breakfasts, parish festivals, St. Nicholas event, Afternoon for the Arts, and Light Their Way gala.
Service becomes a way of life for our young servant leaders, and in all of these activities, the children are taught the virtue of gratitude for all they have received and the joy of giving to others.