Summer Endeavour in a Redemptorist Volunteer Experience
THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN S.E.R.V.E. 2020
July 18, 2020 – August 15, 2020
S.E.R.V.E. is an opportunity for 30 young men and women (age 18-30) to deepen their Christian Faith through fostering a sense of mission, service, prayer and spirituality in a Christian Community rooted in the Spirituality of St. Alphonsus Liguori and in the Redemptorist Charism. The program will run from Saturday July 18 – Saturday August 15, 2020 for a total of four weeks.
Normally, the S.E.R.V.E. program draws young people from across the country to participate in the program in a central location, while emphasizing a shared community experience. In 2020, as we begin to experience a recovery in our country from the social isolation due to COVID-19, we see the need and opportunity to provide young people with an opportunity to give to their community while balancing that experience with faith using a VIRTUAL format.
Through common prayer, community and spiritual formation, opportunities for service in social agencies in their own community, discussion and social activities, participants will discover Christ in themselves and learn how to bring Christ to others. The S.E.R.V.E. program follows in the Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic traditions.
S.E.R.V.E. 2020 will have two main components:
1. Service Experience: Participants will volunteer in a local charity, agency or program, selected in consultation with the S.E.R.V.E. Team. The hours to participate at the selected program will be negotiated with the host agency or program, but would ideally range from 20-25 hours per week.
2. Online Community and Formation: The participants will gather online for about 4 evenings per week for Community and Formation, as well as 2 full days for orientation and 2 full days for the program conclusion. Free evenings and free days are worked into the weekly schedule. The schedule of all online sessions will be made available upon acceptance to the program. Participants are required to be available for all sessions.
Why S.E.R.V.E.?
Today’s young people love a challenge. With our recent experience of COVID-19, young people are searching for meaning and for an opportunity to give back. As many summer employment opportunities are not available for young people this year, this is a good time to encourage them to give back to the community, and to be an opportunity for them to be challenged and also to make a connection with their faith, especially in light of our new lived experience together. We see S.E.R.V.E. as providing an opportunity where young men and women can explore their faith and their call to serve in the context of Christian community, even if that community is a virtual one.
Bursary
The Redemptorists are providing a bursary of $500 for the participants upon the completion of the program. We recognize that in addition to having time during the summer and lack of available jobs, that young people will benefit from this bursary to further their education and personal expenses.
Q: Can someone have a part-time job and still participate on S.E.R.V.E.?
It is possible to participate on S.E.R.V.E. and still have a summer job. You are asked to have your place of employment allow you to have the flexibility for your volunteer schedule, as well as the availability to participate in all the required sessions for the online component.
How to Apply!
Applications and References can be submitted one of three ways: MAIL, EMAIL or Directly through the ONLINE APPLICATION.
Applicants are to fill out and return (or fill out and submit online) the Application, and arrange for two (2) references. Referees can fill out and return (or fill out and submit online) the references.
Application and Reference forms are available below and are due to the Ignite – S.E.R.V.E. Team no later than Friday June 12, 2020.
SERVE INFORMATION FLYER (PDF)
Application FORM – LINK TO ONLINE FORM (SurveyMonkey)
Reference FORM – LINK TO ONLINE FORM (SurveyMonkey)
Email Address for Submission: ignite@redemptorists.ca
Mailing Address: SERVE, 151 McCaul Street, Toronto, ON M5T1W3