Campus Ministry | Overview

“We, who are many, are one body in Christ.”
Romans 12:5

The Campus Ministry Office at Christian Brothers Academy strives to provide for the ongoing spiritual development of all members of the CBA community including students, faculty, parents, and alumni. The spiritual life of Christian Brothers Academy is based on the gospel message of Jesus Christ and all the components of the Campus Ministry program follow the tradition of the Catholic Church and the charism of our founder, St. John Baptist de la Salle.

Campus Ministry is made up of three components with an ongoing focus that
WE ARE ONE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

THE HEAD OF CHRIST

The knowledge of our faith is transmitted via the theology classes offered by the Religious Studies Department. All students are required to take religion class each academic year. The focus of each grade is:

• 7th grade: Basics of the Faith
• 8th grade: Introduction to Morality
• 9th grade: God, Salvation History, & Hebrew Scriptures
• 10th grade: Christian Scriptures
• 11th grade: Morality
• 12th grade: Catholic Faith & Lifestyles

THE HEART OF CHRIST

The second component encompasses prayer, liturgies, retreats, penance services, and vocation awareness for both faculty/staff and students.

• Prayer is an integral part of each day. The school day begins with morning prayer over the public address system, read by students. A prayer reflection sets the tone for the day. In addition, every class period begins with the reminder that “We are in the Holy presence of God”. Jesus Christ is the reason for the existence of Christian Brothers Academy. He is the unseen but ever present teacher in our classes. He is the model of our faculty and the inspiration of our students. It is essential that we remain grounded in prayer. Faculty prayer gatherings are held occasionally in the chapel for all who wish to gather their thoughts for the day. The chapel is always open and welcoming to anyone who wishes to spend time there. Special prayer sessions are held during exam weeks and at many times throughout the year.

• The liturgies during the year arranged for the entire student body include:

        +   Mass of the Holy Spirit  (September)
        +   All Saints’ Day (November)
        +   The Immaculate Conception (December)
        +   Catholic Schools week/beginning of second semester (end of January)
        +   Ash Wednesday (February or March)
        +   Holy Week  (March or April)
        +   The Feast of the Ascension (May)
        +   The Feast of St. LaSalle (April or May)

There are also special-event liturgies during the year:

        +   Faculty Back-to-School (September)
        +   All Souls Alumni Memorial (November)
        +   Mother-Son Communion Breakfast (December)
        +   Father-Daughter Communion Breakfast (May)
        +   7th Grade Grandparents Mass and Breakfast (May)
        +   8th Grade Moving-up Mass and Celebration (May)
        +   Baccalaureate (June)
        +   First Fridays of each month

Retreat days are held for each grade level on a regular basis and include leaving campus and spending the day at a retreat center.  Each grade level has a theme which is pertinent to the developmental issues of the students.

Grade 7	Building Community	February
Grade 8	Self Discovery/Identity	December
Grade 9	Service in the community	March
Grade 10	Relationships	October
Grade 11&12 Boys	KAIROS	November overnight
Grade 11&12 Girls	KAIROS	April overnight
CBA Moms	Varying themes	February
Faculty	Lasallian Formation	October

                     

 

• Opportunities for reconciliation/confession are available twice a year.  During Advent and Lent, priests avail themselves to hear individual confessions.

• Vocation awareness is promoted at CBA.  Visiting Brothers and Sisters, as well as the Director of Vocation Promotion for the Syracuse Diocese, speak to the Religion classes about ways our students can grow to be the people they were created to be and ways to experience the fullness of life intended for them by their Creator.

 

THE HANDS OF CHRIST:

This is the service component of CBA reflected in the activities and projects of Lasallian Youth and Peer Ministry. 

 Lasallian Youth
The Lasallian Groups at CBA are organized to incorporate faith, community, and service into student life.  Through participation in service projects both in and out of school, and by learning about the importance of reaching out to others, students learn how to make a difference in their world.

John Baptist de La Salle insisted that the young people with whom he worked should bear each others’ concerns.  Those who were brighter were to tutor those who experienced some difficulty.  Those who had food should share with those who were lacking.  In the 1960’s a movement began in Spain, and spread throughout the Continent, and then to wherever the Brothers were found.  This movement began among the students themselves, and came to be called Lasallian Youth.

Junior High Lasallian is open to all seventh and eighth grade students.  They participate in various projects throughout the year which benefit different community agencies.  Senior High Lasallian is open to all high school students.  Senior High Lasallian students participate in service projects at off-campus sites such as the Samaritan Center, the Salvation Army, and senior citizen centers.  In addition to direct service, members of the Lasallian Youth Group help our junior and senior Peer Ministers with school-wide collections and projects.  Projects include Christmas collections for local needs, a Lenten mission collection, and emergency relief projects.

Students may sign up for Lasallian any time during the year.  Announcements of meetings and events are made during homeroom and posted in Campus Ministry.

Moderator: 
Mrs. Marijane Finlay (Jr. and Sr. High Lasallian)

Peer Ministry
Peer Ministry invites and empowers the students of Christian Brothers Academy to live the message of Jesus Christ.  This is done through involvement in school liturgies, retreats, community-building activities, community outreach service opportunities, and working to bring about social justice.  Peer Ministry strives to make God’s love visible and active within the entire school community.

The selection process for Peer Ministry takes place following Spring Break.  Sophomores and Juniors may apply.  The selection process is completed by the end of May.

There are five Offices of Peer Ministry. 

• Office of Spiritual Life ~ the goal of this office is to promote the continuing spiritual growth of the student body through Eucharistic liturgies and prayer services.  The office is responsible for offering sacramental experiences and prayer opportunities for the community.

• Office of Social Justice ~ the goal of this office is to respond in Gospel charity to the world community through social outreach programs.  The office is responsible for heightening awareness, educating the student body, and organizing action on behalf of justice and charity.

 

• Office of Christian Formation ~ the goal of this office is to focus on the formation of the student body with a special emphasis on retreats.  The office is responsible for helping the student body grow in their faith and for building community with inclusion of all CBA students.

• Office of Community Outreach ~ the goal of this office is to reach out to others who may be in need.  The office is responsible for designing service activities/community outreach activities throughout the year.  They also assist the Office of Social Justice with fundraisers.

 

• Office of Art Enhancement ~ the goal of this office is to visually represent the activities of the other four offices in order to inform the school community of Campus Ministry and ways to become involved.

The Executive Board of Peer Ministry consists of senior leaders from each of the five offices.  They are trained at an overnight retreat in the summer and meet as needed throughout the year.  Two seniors are Student Coordinators and oversee all five offices.

2012-2013 Peer Ministers

Student Coordinators

Luke Brown

JaQuay Whatley

Spiritual Life

Ellen Mather

Phil Parkes

Sid Perkins

Zach Taylor

Nolan Bower

James Bruska

Matthew Cupelo

Lauren DeLorenzo

Michael DiGiorgio

Anna Do

Marygrace Hanson

Dylan Letcher

Sam Lim

Morgan Liptak

Jen Merola

Tim Pierret

Jordan Sheridan

Lucas Smith

Rebecca Vignogna

Andrea Zangari

Christian Formation

Billy Burns

Maggie Fletcher

Alyssa Pitonzo

Connor Agnew

Justin Brennan

Abby Capella

Drew Derrenbacker

Gideon Dixon

Alex Drescher

Cara Fusillo

Sarah Harmatuk

Josh Lacey

Sarah Lester

Ariana Marshall

Molly Murphy

Zeanna Otis

Joey Stephens

Mike Trasolini

J.R. Zazzara

Erica Zimmerman

Community Outreach

Christian Damico

Courtney Finkbeiner

Maire Kate McGlynn

Matt Preston

Gabby Carni

Bella Corieri

Ryan Croucher

Jovan Diaz

Mason Garlatti

Monica Hanson

Jessica Lam

Meghan Macri

Jack Pfohl

Olivia Pitonzo

Jessica Prucha

Katie Rivito

Marisa Romeo

Kristen Rubenstein

Kendall Sangster

Mary Spizuoco

John Valerio

Jake Wilcox

Social Justice

Honor Bowman

Amanda Calabrese

John Hillenbrand

Jenna Bartolotti

Will Brower

Dametrius Brown

Joe Burns

Ben Capella

Alessandra Carno

Andrew DePerro

Ethan Gorman

Jack O’Connor

Olivia Rotondo

Joe Rupprecht

Deshawn Salter

Jared Sayles

Summer Schmitt

Ken Slack

Matt Stedman

Art Enhancement

Lexy McCauley

Toni Winderl

Allison Bargabos

Deanna Cerlanek

Keith Huynh

Dalia McKenzie