Campus Ministry

As a “school for the Lord’s service” (The Rule of St. Benedict, Prologue 45), Delbarton’s mission to pursue excellence, develop leadership, and build character by educating the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – is set within the framework of a Roman Catholic and Benedictine culture committed to the promotion of authentically human values. Enlivened by the Benedictine way of seeking God in worship, prayer, community, and work for the Church, the Campus Ministry Program seeks to help students to have a personal encounter with the Lord, become aware of His love for them, and respond to that love through lives of faith, hope, and charity.  Campus Ministry’s efforts fall into four areas: prayer, retreats, service, & leadership.

Prayer

“Nothing is to be preferred to the Work of God” writes St. Benedict in The Rule (43:3).  Prayer is at the heart of the monastic life and so is a vital component of the school’s life.  Delbarton seeks to help its students to develop an attitude of awe and reverence in God’s presence, as well as a habit of giving thanks and praise to God, both personally and communally, through prayer and worship.  It does this through vibrant liturgies and prayer services.

Retreats

“What, dear brothers, is more delightful than the voice of the Lord calling to us?  See how the Lord in his love shows us the way of life.” (The Rule of St. Benedict, Prologue 19-20).Yet, our lives can become so busy with demanding schedules and a wealth of commitments that there can seem to be little time to stop to listen for the voice of the Lord, to ponder life’s most fundamental questions, or to focus on one’s relationship with God and others.  For this reason, Delbarton School has “scheduled” time to do just this.  

Service

Love of neighbor, grounded in the love of God, is a responsibility that we hold in common and is an expression of the Benedictine charism of hospitality, which welcomes everyone as Jesus Christ (The Rule of St. Benedict, 53:1).  Community service at Delbarton has its roots in the philosophy that a person matures only to the degree that he puts others ahead of himself, and is seen as an essential part of the school’s mission to educate the whole person and to graduate students who will have positive impact on society. 

Leadership

Campus Ministry utilizes a “peer-to-peer” structure.  All programs are student-led, with oversight from the Director of Campus Ministry, School Chaplain, and Faculty Campus Ministers.  Each year, based on their exemplary faith, maturity, and involvement in service and retreats, six seniors are appointed as Student Campus Ministers.  These students are formed in the spirituality of St. Benedict, pray every day in a style similar to the monks, supervise community service projects, lead the Middle School Day of Recollection, and each directs a student retreat. 

 

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