Campus Ministry
High School with a Higher Purpose
In his Apostolic Letter Evangelizing through Catholic Schools, Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Olmsted wrote that Catholic schools assist the Church in her mission of evangelization in 5 ways:
- to be a place of encounter with the living Jesus Christ;
- to be places of Spirit-filled community;
- to impart a Catholic worldview through the curriculum;
- to assist students in becoming free; and
- to send students out as missionary disciples to transform the culture.
Responding to this call to evangelize through Catholic schools, the BCHS Campus Ministry Department strives to form disciples who recognize, receive, and respond to God’s gift and call in their lives. This is done through discipleship, events, ongoing programs and outreach, and a ministry of presence to students - accompanying each student on their journey of life and faith.
Formation and Faith
Liturgical Activities
The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the font from which all her power flows. (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 10)
Participation in the Sacraments and prayer is the heart of our Catholic identity and the foundation of our Campus Ministry. Each morning, and before each class period, we pray as a school community. Around the altar at Mass, in encounters with the merciful Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and in prayer before the Eucharist and as a community we find what it means to be children in the family of God. As a school community, this includes:
- Daily Mass offered in our school chapel 3+ days each week
- Monthly All-School Mass
- Eucharistic Adoration 1-2 times a month
- Two school-wide Penance services (during Advent and Lent)
- May Crowning
Events and Retreats
“You perceive it in the depths of your heart: all that is good on earth… can never fully satisfy your deepest and most intimate desires. Only an encounter with Jesus can give full meaning to your lives.” (St. John Paul II)
Retreats, a “stepping back” from daily life, can serve as a bridge to life-changing encounters with Christ. As a school community we offer retreats as an opportunity for students to be inspired and equipped to live a life of Catholic discipleship. Several all-school events are also organized by Campus Ministry to foster service, school community, and Catholic identity.
- Kairos (Spring and Fall)
- Women’s Retreat (once a year)
- Men's Retreat (once a year)
- Days of Prayer and service for each grade level, each year
- Spring Mission Trip (Spring Break)
- Catholic Schools Week (End of January-Beginning of February each year)
- Steubenville West Conference (each July)
- Freshman and Senior Experience (in collaboration with Student Council)
- Athletic Ministry
Student Leadership
“Do not put off till tomorrow the good you can do today!” (St. John Bosco)
Core Team- Students have the opportunity to serve as a student leader on the Campus Ministry Core Team. These students are involved in regular training, fellowship, and prayer, and serve as leaders for Kairos retreats, Days of Prayer, and other events. Attendance at a Kairos retreat is a prerequisite to apply.
Bosco Center
The Bosco Center (named after St. John Bosco, the patron saint of youth) is located in the Hillmann Center and is the home of Campus Ministry at BCHS. Here, students can hang out, talk about life, get in a round of ping pong, find a snack, and meet for various clubs and activities. The Bosco Center is open during lunch and after school (availability may vary based on the Campus Ministry schedule).
