Seniors Connect with Local Nonprofits Through Path to Caritas

The Path to Caritas Project is the culmination of our Upper School Theology IV course, Catholic Social Teaching. This project gives our seniors a chance to explore injustices in our society, connect with local non-profit organizations, and utilize their learning of the Circle of Social Action - to see, judge, and act. 

Students work together in small groups to identify and investigate an issue in which they are interested.  Partnering with local organizations in this service-learning process provides them with a mentor and gives them an opportunity to develop their research and interviewing skills.  Spending time with the people who face these injustices provides encounters that can be life-changing, for all involved. 

As their Theology teacher, Christine Giles shared, “It is an honor to witness my students living out their faith through their Caritas Projects.  Watching them move from interest in a topic to passion for a cause is inspiring.”

The topics chosen for this semester’s projects included poverty, hunger, human trafficking, homelessness, elder care, veterans’ services, special needs education & ministry, and foster care challenges.

This semester represented the widest variety of nonprofit partnerships we have seen. Organizations our seniors chose to work with were: Thistle & Bee, St. Patrick’s Mobile Food Pantry, Room in the Inn, Foster Village, Opus, WarHorses for Heroes, Ave Maria Home, Birthright of Memphis, Madonna Learning Center, St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen, St. Michael’s Souls for Service, Dorothy Day House, Wolf River Conservancy, Youth Villages, Memphis Child Advocacy Center, A Way Out Ministries, St. Vincent de Paul Society Food Mission, and Boys & Girls Club of Memphis.

After completing their Caritas projects and presenting them to their classes and guests, the students were asked to write a reflection on their experience. They were encouraged to share what they enjoyed, what challenges they faced, and what insights they gained.

One senior summarized the goal of the projects perfectly in her reflection: “I had awareness and acknowledgement of the injustice, but getting the opportunity to be around people who were actually affected by it changed my perspective and made me more eager to help. I felt rewarded when the people hugged me, and when they thanked me because I believed I did not deserve that, but they were more than grateful for anything I did for them. It was a powerful moment that encouraged me to continue in my journey of volunteering and helping those who need it.”

Through their projects, Mrs. Giles and her students have connected with a variety of wonderful organizations and people in our Memphis community.

"Now that we've done the Caritas capstone project for a few years, our student presentations feel like reunions with our non-profit partners.  They love to come and support our seniors, show their appreciation, and connect with the girls again.  It is so beautiful to see these relationships being formed," said Mrs. Giles.

We are so proud of these seniors for their dedication to each organization they chose. They have left their mark on the greater Memphis community, and this community has left its mark on them, as well.