Social Justice and Service

Alternative Spring Break 

 

 During Spring Break you could party, relax or change your life forever.  Why not change your life?!  Spend your spring break serving others in need and learning about the issues that keep them in a cycle of injustice.  Through the ASB program the Newman Center fundraises to send 15-20 students to serve those who are underserved in our Church and our country.  Previous projects have worked with the poor, homeless, immigrants and disaster victims.  Students fundraise for the trip by selling parking spaces in our Newman lot before and during Mizzou's home football games (for information on football parking reservations, please click here).  Because of this, students only have to spend $75 for the entire week!  The trips will be announced in August (see the bulletin and weekly email for updates).  The deadline to sign up will be in September so that you will have enough time to work the fundraising hours. 


 
Service Opportunities
 
The Catholic Student Association has a Service Team of individuals who plan several service events per month to make a big impact on our community.  We serve the poor, elderly, homeless, children and our own parish families.  While different events are planned sporadically throughout the year, we have several service projects that we do monthly.  We cook dinner every second Wednesday at Loaves & Fishes, a soup kitchen in downtown Columbia.  We will also be cooking dinner once a month for the Ronald McDonald House.  The Service Team also has information on how to volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, and Newman Needleworks.  Check the calendar to find out about current service opportunities.  Also, we are proud to host the UMC Homecoming Build for Habitat for Humanity and to be recognized throughout our local community for the contributions of our students who spread the Good News through good work.  Contact the Service Team at csaservice@newmancentercolumbia.org find out what’s coming up and check the weekly email and student bulletin for more information.


Pro-Life
 
The Catholic Student Association promotes the value of all human lives from the moment of conception until natural death.  We work and pray for the safety and dignity of all members of our human family.  Events include Rosaries and Stations of the Cross for Life and a Baby Shower for our local crisis pregnancy center. 
 
 
Social Justice
 
As practicing Catholics, it is our responsibility to pray and work to change the biases and systemic problems that cause suffering, hate and injustice in our community, our country and our world.  Campus Ministry and the Catholic Student Association plan events throughout the year to educate students on various social justice issues as well as identifying actions you can take as a student and person of faith to make a difference in this world.