The Sophomore Class and the Center for Community Service and Justice have been co-sponsoring the “Presence for Christmas” program for nearly 15 years. The Loyola University community (faculty, staff, administrators and student groups) adopts approximately 75 families each year and provides a food basket and presents for each family member. In addition, gifts are given to over 300 individual children and several large "superstores" (gift giving programs) are coordinated by local communities. Recipient nametags are distributed in November to the college community at the Sunday Masses (in the chapel) and Primo’s and Boulder cafes. The wrapped gifts are received at “Lessons and Carols” an Advent/Christmas service in Early December. All of the “adopted” families and children are associated with the many community partners and programs with which Loyola volunteers work during the year. Because of the overwhelming willingness to donate, this year CCSJ and the Sophomore Class were able to sponsor more families than ever before! At the end of the semester, a group of students and Santa Claus delivered the presents to our community partners. One volunteer said, "The highlight of the day was having the chance to see the excitement on the kid's faces as they saw Santa Claus. Delivering the gifts was a really enjoyable and rewarding experience." The Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice is an annual event held to commemorate the Jesuits and lay women who were martyred in El Salvador, to call for an end to unjust institutions both domestically and internationally, and to reflect on the Jesuit commitment to justice. Each year, thousands of high school and college students, clergy and lay people gather in Columbus, GA, for the Teach-In. The Teach-In is held in conjunction with the School of the Americas Vigil. Over 10,000 people, including the roughly 2,000 from Jesuit high schools, colleges, and universities who participate in the Teach-In, gather at Ft. Benning, Georgia each November to call for the closing of the former School of the Americas (SOA), renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, which trains members of Latin American militaries.
The Fall Meet and Eat is a time when Loyola's community partners and the Loyola community come together over a meal. As a part of the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis- strengthening the mind, body and spirit- Loyola's Varsity Lacrosse Team hosted a lacrosse clinic for the St. Ignatius Loyola Academy Boys Lacrosse Team. The idea for the clinic started after two St. Ignatius Homework Club volunteers attended a St. Ignatius lacrosse game. The students saw that the St. Ignatius team was at a disadvantage to the other private schools they were playing against and did not have the same level of training. They felt that a clinic would be a great way for the St. Ignatius players to learn the fundamentals of lacrosse, while spending time with positive male role models who have achieved both athletic and academic excellence. Thanks to the athletic department, the mens lacrosse team and the two Loyola student volunteers who helped organize the event, from 2-4 pm on Saturday October 24th, the Loyola Lacrosse players worked one-on-one with the St. Ignatius students. They practiced different drills to improve passing, throwing and shooting. From 4-5pm the boys were given a tour of the locker room and shown the highlight video. Afterwards, both teams talked and ate pizza. To conclude the day, Fr. Tim Brown blessed crosses that were shaped like lacrosse sticks. Each Loyola player gave one to a St. Ignatius student. The crosses serve to remind the boys of their commitment to their faith, their schoolwork, and the sport. The clinic strengthened the relationship between Loyola University and St. Ignatius Loyola Academy.
Urban Needs Introduced Through Experience is Loyola's local, urban immersion program. The weekend includes an experience of direct service in a meal program, factual information on poverty and homelessness, reflection, discussion and activities. Each year the Loyola community alongside Women In Black of Baltimore joined in commemorating the lives lost on September 11, 2001. The Loyola community stood in solidarity despite the wind and rain to promote peace throughout the country and in the world. back to top CCSJ hosted its annual Community Service Fair which featured community partners and the various service opportunities available on campus. back to top
Guided by faith in God and moral commitment to social justice, and in collaboration with others, Episcopal Community Services of Maryland strives to address the injustice of severe poverty, which is embeded in communities and dis empowers individuals. ECSM provides education and support systems as well as advocates for families and individuals seeking help in overcoming adversity. This year's ECSM Breakfast honored CCSJ as an exceptional community partner. In 2008, 296 volunteers contributed 5,150 hours to ECSM programs. back to top
Celebration of Service is an end of the school year gather of Loyola student, faculty, staff and administrator volunteers and community partners. Its primary purpose is to thank and celebrate the commitment and dedication of all gathered. The evening included student volunteers who spoke of their most impactful service experiences and a relfection by Jim Hillman of Gallagher services, one of CCSJ's communiy partners. The inspiring Keynote Speech was delivered by Bridget O'Connor. Delicious desserts were served along with tea and coffee. back to top
It is our social responsibility, not only as human being but as members of a Jesuit university, to be aware of what our brothers and sisters experience every day. The goal of Fast and Sleep Out is to create solidarity with those who are hungry and homeless by fasting for 24 hours and sleeping on the Quad.
A mini-carnival, the Spring Celebration invites elementary school children from Baltimore City schools for an afternoon of food, fun, and games. This year, the event is rounded out with a moon bounce, an Easter egg hunt, arts and crafts, loads of snacks, and team games.
Women's Meet and Eat is an educational and fun event that brings together the Loyola University community and the Baltimore community to allow women from different backgrounds to share a meal and celebrate together. Loyola students and faculty/administration/staff members are invited to host women from community agencies affiliated with Loyola.
The weekend connecting service to faith, includes an experience of direct service in a meal program, factual information on poverty and homelessness, reflection, discussion and activities. back to top
As a Jesuit university, Loyola University is a member of the national Ignatian Solidarity Network. As such, we participate in the mission of facilitating and promoting communication, education, social justice awareness and action among Jesuit member institutions and individuals. Our goal is to better understand what it means to live and act upon “a faith that does justice”. One way of doing this is to sponsor and/or collaborate with others on various activities concerning the closing of the School of the Americas (SOA)/Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC). This involves education and awareness of human rights issues, a planned trip to participate in the vigil to close the school in Georgia along with other Jesuit institutions. back to top
November 11, 2008
Meet and Eat Held every semester, this educational and fun event brings together the Loyola University community and the Baltimore community to allow people from different backgrounds to share a meal and celebrate together. Loyola student and faculty/administration/staff members are invited to host guests from community agencies affiliated with Loyola. back to top
Each fall the Center for Community Service and Justice partners with the Career Center to bring representatives of full-time service programs to campus for an opportunities fair. The partnership between the two offices illustrates the fact that full-time community service is a great career move—one that can fundamentally enhance your career preparation. back to top
UNITE is a weekend immersion experience that offers you a chance to travel into Baltimore with a small group of students and staff members to take a closer look at the realities of people who are materially poor and/or experiencing homelessness in our city. The weekend includes direct service in a meal program, factual information on poverty and homelessness, reflection, discussions and activities. back to top
Student Orientation to Service is a program designed to give first year students the opportunity to participate in a three day community service experience. S.O.S. includes direct service with people who are economically poor and homeless, discussions exploring the impact of poverty on individuals and society, and reflection. S.O.S. connects incoming students with community service in an urban setting. The program provides an opportunity for participants to increase their understanding of the situations faced by individuals who suffer from economic poverty and homelessness, and exposes them to some of the urban service programs supported by the Center for Community Service and Justice. back to top
Established in 1998, Encounter El Salvador has many unique features that distinguish it from Project Mexico. First of all, the team’s composition is made up of undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff and/or administrators and the two co-coordinators. The time in El Salvador does not include direct service, but what we like to call service of presence. The group spends the majority of their time in the capital city of San Salvador, learning about the many issues facing the Salvadoran people as well as the work that is being done by social service agencies and NGO’s, religious and educational institutions, and the government, then spends the weekend in a rural community outside of San Salvador, living with host families, joining them in some of their everyday activities, and learning about the community. back to top
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The Good Stuff Campaign provides students with an opportunity to live out Loyola’s mission by donating their clothing, dishes, small appliances, and unopened food to local agencies. The people who are served by these agencies can benefit tremendously from this! And, the program is particularly helpful to graduating seniors as they move out of the residence halls immediately after Commencement. Drop off sites for all students are located around campus during Exam Week and Senior Week. Vans and trucks are available near dumpsters on graduation day back to top
Program Welcome & MC -Antoine Bennett, New Song Urban Ministries Invocation - Pastor Thurman Williams, New Song Community Church Special Music - Melissa-Ann McHugh, Loyola College Special Remarks - Student Volunteer Representatives, Loyola College Presentation of the Bible - Andy Goicochea, Loyola College Presentation of the Keys - David Gullotti, Loyola College Remarks and Special Presentation -Charles Johnson, Sandtown Habitat Homeowners Association Special Presentation - Fr. Jack Dennis, S.J. Family Remarks -Omar Owens Acknowledgements -Danny Said, Sandtown Habitat for Humanity Closing Song - This Little Light Benediction - Fr.Chuck Fredericko,S.J., Loyola College Ribbon Cutting - Homeowner Family, Sponsor, Staff and Friends
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Baltimore city school children enjoy the Trick or Treating so much that they can't wait to come back in the spring! This after school event is full of Easter crafts, games and candy to provide an afternoon of fun for EBLO, St.Ambrose and Guilford Elementary School students, who range in grade from Kindergarten through third grade. back to top
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Opening: Service Coordinator Procession
Welcome - Sr. Missy Gugerty, SSND
Story I - Alex Vargas
Story II - Andrew Zaleski
Story III - Tracy Petruzziello
Keynote Speaker - Maggie Hughes
Story IV - Mike Conti
Agency Guest - Mark Marino ( Project Health)
Story IV - Father Jack Dennis
Closing - Christina Harrison back to top
This year Maryland Day week features series of service events. One of the events is "Taste of Service" - visiting Viva House, a West Baltimore outreach center and meal provider affiliated with the Catholic Worker movement. In this visit, participants were offered a breakfast, a tour and an overview of the services in Viva House.
To learn more about Viva House, which was featured in the HBO's mini series - The Wire, and to hear the interview with Viva House's owners - Brendan & Willa, please click here. back to top
The Procession The Closing Reflection back to top
U.N.I.T.E. is a weekend immersion experience that offers you a chance to travel into Baltimore with a small group of students and staff members to take a closer look at the realities of people who are poor and homeless in our city. back to top
Project Mexico is an international immersion program that takes place in the Tijuana border region for 10 days in early January. During their stay in Mexico, participants involve in community directed construction projects, commonly centered on schools, as well as cultural and social activities and education programs to engage topics such as immigration, the environment, human rights, and political and economic issues. back to top | 
