Service Hour Guidelines
Our faith in Jesus Christ and our mission to proclaim the Gospel demand of us a commitment to promote justice and enter into solidarity with the voiceless and the powerless.
Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ
Superior General of the Society of Jesus 1945-1981
Superior General of the Society of Jesus 1945-1981
The rationale for the Mission and Ministry’s Ignatian Service Program at St. Joseph’s Prep is rooted in the belief of St. Ignatius that “love is shown in deeds rather than in words.”
We invite our students to become “men for and with others” by educating their minds and hearts to horizons beyond their previous experience and into the world beyond the world they know. It is important that students come in contact with people who on the surface may be unlike themselves, people who are poor, both materially, bodily and spiritually, people who are marginalized, the disadvantaged either socially or economically, and disabled either in mind or body.
The St. Joseph’s Prep Ignatian Service Program is mandatory.
The St. Joseph’s Prep Ignatian Service Program is mandatory.
Service Requirements
Ignatian Service is an integral part of our curriculum. Our students will graduate having immersed themselves in what it means to be a man for and with others. During their four years they will complete a minimum 80 hours.
- 10 hours for Freshman
- 10 hours for Sophomores
- 20 hours for Juniors
- 40 hours for Senior
What is Acceptable Service?
Any service program sponsored directly by the Mission and Ministry Office (e.g. Daily Service, Annual Service Initiatives, Summer Service Immersion trips) is acceptable. A student’s participation in such a program must always be verified by someone at the site or the Prep moderator of that activity. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that his service hours have been submitted on MobileServe. (see below for details on how to submit).
Suggestions for service projects are provided by the Mission and Ministry Office throughout the school year via the school announcements and the website. We encourage students to begin to participate in service opportunities as soon as possible.
The Mission and Ministry Office does not assign students to projects but will gladly help the student find the appropriate site for his talents and availability. Meetings can be set up with members of the Mission and Ministry team during the student’s free periods or after school to discuss these opportunities more fully and help students sign up for the right service for them.
Suggestions for service projects are provided by the Mission and Ministry Office throughout the school year via the school announcements and the website. We encourage students to begin to participate in service opportunities as soon as possible.
The Mission and Ministry Office does not assign students to projects but will gladly help the student find the appropriate site for his talents and availability. Meetings can be set up with members of the Mission and Ministry team during the student’s free periods or after school to discuss these opportunities more fully and help students sign up for the right service for them.
Non-school Sponsored Service
1. The project must assist people who are socially or economically disadvantaged and provide the kind of atmosphere in keeping with the mission of the Ignatian Service Program. Therefore, in choosing a service project, we ask that it involve direct work with those in need. This should not be something that the student would ordinarily do like a part-time job or club activity.
2. As a result of this philosophy, programs such as helping relatives, coaching CYO teams, or other programs similar
that do not place the student in a setting with disadvantaged people or beyond his “comfort zone” will not be accepted unless approved by the Mission and Ministry office before the service is completed.
3. Any program which includes a stipend is not acceptable.
4. Travel time should not count unless it is directly connected to the service the student is performing.
5. Service performed as a school community during school hours does not count toward the service requirement (the Thanksgiving Food Rally, Operation Santa Claus Gift Wrapping and Distribution, and Freshman and Sophomore Day of Service are all examples of these types of events that do not count towards the service requirement)
2. As a result of this philosophy, programs such as helping relatives, coaching CYO teams, or other programs similar
that do not place the student in a setting with disadvantaged people or beyond his “comfort zone” will not be accepted unless approved by the Mission and Ministry office before the service is completed.
3. Any program which includes a stipend is not acceptable.
4. Travel time should not count unless it is directly connected to the service the student is performing.
5. Service performed as a school community during school hours does not count toward the service requirement (the Thanksgiving Food Rally, Operation Santa Claus Gift Wrapping and Distribution, and Freshman and Sophomore Day of Service are all examples of these types of events that do not count towards the service requirement)
How are my hours verified and recorded?
Any program advertised in the announcements by the Mission and Ministry Office, posted on the Prep website, or run by
the Mission and Ministry Office are pre-approved.
Outside projects are approved according to the following procedure:
1. Students must speak with the Mission and Ministry Office about the program the student is interested in
participating in after reviewing the requirements in the Non-School Sponsored Programs section above. The
student should know if the project follows the guidelines listed before asking for permission.
2. Work on an outside project should not begin until approval has been given by the Mission and Ministry
Office. Otherwise, the student assumes the risk that the hours completed on that program might not be counted.
3. Students are responsible to submit all hours on MobileServe with an appropriate supervisor email address. Please
note, listing a student’s parent as “supervisor” will not be accepted without prior approval. See below for logging
directions.
Mobile Serve Instructions
Download the app on the App Store or Google Play Store; you can also access it via https://mobileserve.com/.
On the “Sign In” page, look for the text that says "Or sign in with" with four different options underneath (on the website
version, it says "Social Log In").
Press the Google icon, which will take you to a Google sign in page. From there, choose your “sjprephawks.org” account.
If that doesn't work, click the "Forgot password" option, create your own password, and then log in using your Prep email
and that password.
To log your service hours, press the "Log Hours" button and follow the steps from there. Keep in mind that you must have verification from an adult supervisor in order for your hours to be approved.
Step-by-step instructions can be found here.
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