Teens in Confirmation Year 2 are required to complete two service projects. The service project requirements are fulfilled through Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy – helping our neighbors in their spiritual and physical needs.
During our February class, we will talk more about service opportunities that teens can participate in through our parishes, but most teens will fulfill this requirement outside of the parish. Teens can use service they are doing for school or extracurriculars to fulfill this requirement, as long as that service fulfills a Spiritual or Corporal Work of Mercy and is in line with Catholic Social Teaching.
Teens do not have to participate in a large, organized event, though. We, as Catholics, should participate in Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy every day. For instance, one of the Corporal Works of Mercy is to visit the sick. A teen who visits an aging relative is visiting the sick. Similarly, one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy is to comfort the sorrowful. If a teen comforts a friend in a time of need, that teen is comforting the sorrowful. Saint Mother Teresa said, "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family."
Assignment Instructions
For both service projects, teens should write a one-page reflection (12pt font, double-spaced) on the Spiritual or Corporal Work of Mercy they fulfilled. Reflections should include:
- what you did, when you did it, and where you did it
- which of the Corporal or Spiritual Works of Mercy you fulfilled
- an explanation of how the person(s) you ministered to benefitted from your efforts
- where you saw God’s presence during your act of service
- what you learned about yourself, others, or God through this experience