The Competence to See and the Courage to Act
As a Holy Cross school, Cathedral is committed to educating the heart as well as the mind. What that means is that we combine knowledge with values to transform our young people and empower them to make a difference in the world. To that end, Christian service is an integral part of the Cathedral experience. Students learn to have the competence to see and the courage to act in order to make the world a better place. Our Christian Service Program culminates with their St. André Project.
The Christian Service Program follows the Holy Cross teachings of educating hearts and minds and instills the values of excellence, belief in the providence of God, family, hope, diversity and inclusiveness, integrity, option for the poor, and zeal in our students.
St. André Projects
In the spirit of St. André, students combine their passions with the needs of the world to plan and execute a service project over the course of their junior and senior years. Using a foundation of Catholic Social Teaching, each student will design and implement a service capstone project during their junior and senior years. These project will be charity and/or justice focused and will impact the community in at least one of the following four ways: awareness, service, advocacy, and philanthropy.
Cathedral students have made a significant impact in their communities through the St. André Projects. Some of the projects have included holding pickle-ball tournaments to raise money to an AED for a non-profit agency, assisting a local organization that assists refugees in settling into a new life, producing and selling artwork with the proceeds going to help a family pay medical bills, and many other beautiful works of Christian service.
Why are we doing this project?
- Instead of "checking" a box for service, this project allows you to focus on passions, skills and communities that are important to you and create a positive impact in the community.
- Learn valuable life skills such as planning events, working with community partners, budgeting, and learning how you feel called to serve the community.
- Impact the community while also improving your college-ready resume.
- Complete the Indiana graduation pathway, "Learn and Demonstrate Employability Skills," by completing service-based learning.
St. Andre Project Timeline
Phase One: Catholic Social Teaching Course
In the first semester of junior year in Catholic Social Teaching, students will develop the competence to see by putting together an action plan for a St. André Project, a service learning capstone project. Through out the semester, you will take a lo
Phases Two: Junior/Senior Year
In the remaining time of junior and senior year, students will develop the courage to act by completing their St. André Project. They will be guided by their religion teachers and one off-site a mentor of their choice to complete their project.
Phase Three: Service Fair
At the beginning of the second semester of junior year, Cathedral will hold a student-led service fair for all juniors to showcase each St. André Project idea. Juniors will display their projects for the school, specifically for the freshmen and sophomores to sign up to volunteer with or support the projects.
Phase Four: Senior Symposium
At the end of every student's senior year, students will present their St. André Projects during a Senior Service Symposium.
St. André Project Podcast
The St. André Project Podcast was created by Cathedral student Wade Knapp '25. He wanted to use his voice and podcasting to shine a light on other St. André Projects. Every episode Wade will sit down with a member of the Class of 2025 to talk about what they did for their project.