It is not enough to train a student’s mind without giving attention to the spiritual dimension. Catholic Central High School, with its commitment to Character Education, also emphasizes Christian love and action. Campus Ministry exists to serve these areas of a student’s life. In addition, the goal of Campus Ministry and this school is to help our students apply their faith to daily life experiences. We accomplish this in a variety of ways.

Holy days and significant days on the Church calendar and school calendar are emphasized through Liturgical Celebrations and Prayer Services. Students’ faculty, administration, and staff take active roles in a variety of ways: planning and execution, Ministers of the Word, Eucharistic Ministers, and Music Ministry. Our day begins with prayer as a school community each day at 8:20 A.M. Mass and Communion Services are held regularly in our school chapel. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is scheduled for the First Friday of every month. Traditional rituals of the Church such as the Blessing of the Throats and imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday are also an integral part of our school community’s practice of the faith.

Service opportunities are provided to help students learn about themselves, gain new insight into social problems, and to provide Christian response. As an entire school community, our students, faculty, staff, and administration participate in the annual Service Blitz Day. This day is set aside each calendar year so that our whole school gets out into the community to provide some much needed service at the local level. Our sites have included Grafton State Park, the Boys and Girls Club, Sunnyside Center, and various provincial houses and motherhouses of religious communities based in the diocese. Our direct service is in response to the Catholic Social Teachings and is what we are called to do as followers of Jesus.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered twice per year, once during Advent and once during Lent. The priests of our students’ parishes are invited to a schoolwide service with individual reconciliation and absolution offered. If there is a need for Reconciliation at any other time, our Campus Chaplain is always available.

Instruction about the sacraments is provided through the Theology curriculum. However, we do not prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation, since this is done through the student’s parish and is received within one’s parish community.

Students are encouraged to participate in Parish Youth Ministry Programs, as well as CLI (Christian Leadership Institute), SALT (Service Action Learning Teams), NCYC (National Catholic Youth Conference), and the Journey Retreat.

Our students annually participate in the Diocesan Vocations Awareness Day, the New York State Catholic Conference’s Public Policy Day, the STOP Conference at Siena College, and the Character Education Youth Summit at the Sage Colleges.

Faculty, staff and administration participate in a retreat day off campus each year prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.

You may feel free to contact Mrs. Ann Pawlik, Campus Minister, at 235-7100 X220 with any questions. Our Campus Chaplain, Father Steve Moore, from Saint Pius Parish, is also available.