Christian Service

When your young student joins St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School, they become part of a community dedicated to forming "faith-filled, visionary, and inspirational leaders in service to the Church and the world."

At Savio, Christ is the foundation of everything we do. His sacrifice on the Cross is our model for making wise decisions, treating others with love and respect, and serving those in need. We believe that Christ is the source of the strength and grace that enable each person to live fully as God created them to be. As the perfect example of humanity, He calls us to become more fully alive in His image.

Our vision, Forming Servant Leaders in the Image of Christ, guides every aspect of school life. Together, our students, faculty, and staff strive each day to grow in faith, character, and leadership, seeking to reflect the heart of Christ in all they do.

We believe that:
With prayerful discernment and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, a Servant Leader recognizes the needs of others, responds with love and selflessness, and inspires others to do the same.

Christian Outreach Service Opportunities

Imago Christi Day:

Annual Day of Service

Imago Christi means "in the Image of Christ". On Imago Christi Day, the entire St. Dominic Savio community sets aside the concerns of the normal academic year to give of themselves in service and reflect on what it means to be a Servant Leader in the Image of Christ. 

Students and faculty travel to more than 20 service sites around the Austin area to offer more than 1400 hours of service in a single day. Additionally, students may hear from a keynote speaker, participate in community-building activities, and spend time in communal prayer during this unique tradition. Typically, Imago Christi Day is scheduled during April.

Diakonia Service Program

Christian Service in the Image of Christ

The Diakonia Service Program is an opportunity to explore the many service and ministry opportunities of the Church and the wider community outside of one's normal circle of friends, family and neighborhood.  The program is comprised both of loving action and prayerful reflection. There are several important components to the Diakonia Service Program, including:

The Spirituality of Service

The Diakonia Service Program is the freely offered gift of one's time, talents, and personality.  We can be Christ for others in many ways.  While some of the agencies where we carry out our ministry are not "Church-related," we consider the student’s contribution to the Diakonia Service Program in that our faith is the motivation, prayer is the source of our strength, and to serve as Jesus did is our goal.

An Opportunity to Learn

The Diakonia Service Program is an opportunity to learn and grow in a unique way. Through Christian service, students may discover their personal gifts, values, limitations, and dreams for the future.  Students will learn about people and have their eyes opened to the problems and challenges in our community in ways which cannot be experienced in a classroom.

Freedom to Choose

Students have particular interests as well as gifts and talents.  In order to be a servant leader according to the call God gives, a person should examine his/her own gifts and interests and listen to the Holy Spirit.  Students often enjoy an experience that can be somewhat difficult or challenging, but that is interesting.  In this way, students are stretched beyond their "comfort zone," and the rewards can be great.

Service Hour Requirements

All service must be for a non-profit organization and must meet a need in society. At least 10 of the required 20 hours must be “service to others” while up to five hours may be a “service to Savio”.

Service to Others

At least 10 of the required 20 hours must come from service that benefits the larger society (outside the Savio Community).This would include service that comes from volunteering their time to meet needs in local communities, churches, and/or the worldwide community.

Service to Savio

Up to five hours of the required 20 hours may come from service performed at Savio or for the benefit of Savio groups and clubs (the Savio Community).

The 200 Club

The 200 Club recognizes students who have exceeded over 200 hours of community service. Students at Savio are encouraged to give of their time and talents generously, well beyond the required 20 hours minimum each year. Graduating Seniors who serve for 200 hours beyond the Diakonia requirement will receive recognition at graduation. 

SENIOR SERVANT LEADER PROJECT

During each student’s senior year at Savio, in Theology IV, students will design and implement the Senior Service Project and give a presentation on their experience during the Servant Leader Presentation Night in the spring.

The Senior Project is an opportunity for Savio seniors to perform intentional servant leadership service before graduating from St. Dominic Savio. As members of the Catholic community, Savio seniors complete the Senior Servant Leader Project in order to learn about the greater world and gain life experience in serving others. In Theology IV students use the Catholic Entrepreneurship and Design Experience (CEDE) curriculum, developed by Catholic University of America, to aid in this endeavor. CEDE assists the students by forming a Catholic imagination ordered toward the Incarnation: the creation of things that are True, Good, and Beautiful - things that contribute to the common good and create value in their lives and the people they serve. Students discern their personal vocation, their unique path in the world, and how they can use their own gifts, talents, and interests to create a better world. Through the study of the Catholic understanding of the dignity of work, the importance of virtue, the common good, leadership, and vocation, students will ultimately answer the question, “What does servant leadership look like to me?”