The focus of the Caritas Connection is to live out our core values of Truth (Veritas), Unity (Unitas), and Love (Caritas) by helping others, especially those who are in need, following the model that Jesus gave us at the Last Supper. We do this both individually and as a community of Love. Dedicated and continued service is expected of each student.
"(Jesus) rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. … When he had washed their feet [and] put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, 'Do you realize what I have done for you? … I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.'" (John 13: 4-5, 12, 15).
This action of Jesus at the Last Supper in John's Gospel is, significantly, the Gospel reading on Holy Thursday when the Church remembers the institution of the Eucharist. Eucharist means thanksgiving and the Church reminds us that in thanking God we are to serve others. In a homily on this reading, St. Augustine says: "Brothers and sisters, we have learned humility from the One who is on high. Let us humbly do for one another what the One on high did” (Homilies on the Gospel of John, 58). In another homily Augustine says: "Christ is hungry here, thirsty here, he's naked, he's a migrant, he's sick, he's in prison. You see, whatever his body suffers here, he suffers too" (Sermon 137). Together we, those who suffer and those who help ease suffering, are the Body of Christ.
"(Jesus) rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. … When he had washed their feet [and] put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, 'Do you realize what I have done for you? … I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.'" (John 13: 4-5, 12, 15).
This action of Jesus at the Last Supper in John's Gospel is, significantly, the Gospel reading on Holy Thursday when the Church remembers the institution of the Eucharist. Eucharist means thanksgiving and the Church reminds us that in thanking God we are to serve others. In a homily on this reading, St. Augustine says: "Brothers and sisters, we have learned humility from the One who is on high. Let us humbly do for one another what the One on high did” (Homilies on the Gospel of John, 58). In another homily Augustine says: "Christ is hungry here, thirsty here, he's naked, he's a migrant, he's sick, he's in prison. You see, whatever his body suffers here, he suffers too" (Sermon 137). Together we, those who suffer and those who help ease suffering, are the Body of Christ.
Caritas Connection Overview
The Caritas Connection is designed for direct service to the poor and to the agencies serving those living on the margins of society. Please consider the following as you look to serve:
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When serving with National Charity League or Young Men’s Service League, the service must be approved by someone at the agency served, not someone from the service leagues.
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All service opportunities must be recorded in Helper Helper with accurate contact information within 10 days of the service is performed.
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Service to a student’s Cascia Hall or auxiliary sports team is not considered service, but rather being part of a team. However, service to another CH team or a Middle School team is considered service to CH.
The Helper Helper website and app will be used (1) for Campus Ministry to promote Caritas opportunities and (2) for students to record and submit their Caritas Connection experiences. The web login and links for app downloading can be found here.
Caritas Connection will appear as a pass/fail course on myCASCIA each semester. Each class year will have a Campus Minister as the teacher of this course. This person will be that class’s dedicated Caritas Minister all four years of Upper School.
2025-2026 Grade-Level Campus Ministers:
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Seniors: Fr. Joe Roccasalva, OSA
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Juniors: Mr. Adam Stoermer
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Sophomores: Mrs. Bonnie Leighty
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Freshmen: A-L Mr. Roger Carter; Freshmen M-Z Mrs. Bonnie Leighty
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Recognition
Once a student completes a semester’s requirements, all additional Caritas experiences will be recorded as extra-credit assignments in myCASCIA and count toward above-and-beyond recognition:
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Outstanding achievement award for at least three experiences beyond each year’s requirements.
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The Sister Mary Murrihy Award at graduation for the senior with the most outstanding service portfolio, considering both quantity and quality
Just in Case
Students who choose not to meet the minimum requirements will receive grades of F for the Caritas Connection for that semester. Athletic and extracurricular ineligibility will follow, as with other courses. Incomplete experiences from the previous semester will need to be completed before the current semester’s experiences are begun. When they are, F’s will be changed to P’s. Students must have passed all semesters to date of the Caritas Connection to be eligible for the National Honor Society.
Requirements by Grade
List of 4 items.
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9th Grade
9th grade8 hours minimum per semester (16 hours total)Service experiences must include at least:- two Caritas experiences with your family and/or schoolmates
- one Caritas experience benefiting Cascia Hall
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10th Grade
10th grade5 hours per semester + 9 hours during minimester (19 hours total)Service experiences must include at least:- one Caritas experience with a faith community (not including Minimester Wednesdays)
- one Caritas experience directly serving the poor with your family and/or schoolmates (not including Minimester Wednesdays)
- three Caritas experiences with our partner agencies (including Minimester Wednesdays--built into the school day)
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11th Grade
11th gradeIntensive Caritas Experience (20 hours minimum)- A proposal, approved by the junior Caritas Minister, is required in advance. This is done via Google Forms, accessible on myCASCIA.
- The intensive experience should be a minimum of 20 hours of direct service (working with clients or guests), preferably serving the poor and vulnerable, and can be:
- with one agency or connected agencies that include direct interaction with clients/recipients
- on a multi-day mission/service trip that includes significant direct service and a component requiring the student to take a role in planning and leading.
- another experience requiring similar depth, commitment, and leadership
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12th Grade
12th gradeSenior Caritas Project (10 hours minimum)- Serve a singular organization or a collection of related organizations that primarily serve the poor and/or vulnerable to serve at least 10 hours between the end of exams in the 11th grade year and before May 1 of the 12th grade year.
- Organizations must be from the approved list (found below). If you would like to work at an agency not on the approved list, please contact any member of Campus Ministry.
- Deadlines:
- Labor Day Weekend: Proposal (link: https://forms.gle/G5Z83pCdV5H2cAk36).
- End of Fall Semester: 1st half of hours
- Spring Break: Rose Paper - Details for the Rose Paper will be posted in the course on myCASCIA
- May 1: All hours completed
The following organizations are approved partners for Caritas experiences for the 2024-2025 school year. Please contact Campus Ministry to get additional organizations added to the list.
CH-sponsored events
- Celebrate Cascia
- Christmas Tree Lot
- 8th grade visits/Open House
- Inside Cascia
- School-Sponsored Retreats
- Host a Shadowing Student
- 10th Grade Minimester Days of Service to the Community
Organizations serving persons with disabilities
- American Heart Association
- A New Leaf
- Aaron’s Camp
- Alzheimer’s Association
- Camp Barnabas
- Challenger Bowling League
- Hope’s Crossing
- Little Light House
- Mental Health Association of Oklahoma
- Pathways Adult Learning Center
- Special Olympics
- The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges
Organizations serving children & adults
- American Red Cross
- Art Alliance of Tulsa
- Assistance League of Tulsa
- Balcony Women
- Diocese of Tulsa
- Lindsay House
Organizations serving youth
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Child Abuse Network
- Clark Youth Theatre
- Community Action Project (CAP)
- Crosstown Learning Center
- New Life Ranch
- Parent Child Center of Tulsa
- Ronald McDonald House
- Scouting of America
- Tulsa Boys’ Home
- Tulsa Discovery Lab
- Tulsa Girls Art School
- Tulsa Athletic Programs
- Youth Services of Tulsa
Organizations serving people in need of social services
- Animal Aid of Tulsa
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
- Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma and its agencies
- City Lights of Oklahoma (Night Light Tulsa)
- Clarehouse
- Coffee Bunker
- Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma
- Emergency Infant Services
- Family and Children’s Services
- Food on the Move
- Fostering Connections
- Global Gardens
- Iron Gate
- Jenks Community Food Bank
- John 3:16
- Kendall Whittier, Inc.
- Life Senior Services
- Meals on Wheels
- Salvation Army
- Tulsa Day Center
- Tulsa Dream Center
Agencies serving the Tulsa community
- Living Arts of Tulsa
- Tulsa Botanic Garden
- Tulsa City County Library
- Up With Trees
- Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
- YMCA/YWCA
"What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like." St. Augustine
