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Mission and Ministry Center

Student Leadership & Volunteer Opportunities

The Mission and Ministry Center vision focuses on providing spaces and places where all can explore their faith and questions of human existence, as well as deepen their understanding of & relationship with God; and forming students as leaders in a complex world in great need of visible and radical witnesses of love and solidarity.

View the MMC 2020-2021 student leadership opportunities below (click on the tabs):

Lasallian Peer Ministers (Paid hourly)

Lasallian Peer Ministers (LPMs):

Liturgy & Prayer - the LPMs for Liturgy & Prayer seeks to provide liturgical settings and ritualized celebrations that nourish the spiritual life of the College community. They have an integral role in the coordination and planning, inclusive of liturgical environment and supporting liturgical ministers (readers, servers, etc.). Rooted in the Eucharistic liturgy as the “source and summit” of our Christian life, these LPMs help to animate the rich tradition and diverse expressions of Catholic liturgical life, all the while fostering prayerful opportunities for those of different faiths to be spiritually integrated within their lived experience.
RCIA & Faith Formation - the RCIA/Faith Formation LPMs are intentional in building relationships and seizing formative moments to nourish the spiritual life of the College community. Rooted in the Catholic faith, these LPMs help to animate the vibrant expression of a lived experience of Catholicism. This also means that the LPMs must be keenly aware of the necessity to humbly honor and appropriately respond to the diversity of how faith or non-faith is lived out on campus. The LPMs also assist with the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program throughout the year. RCIA is a faith-based community that supports, nourishes, and deepens the spiritual lives of candidates who are seeking to receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion). These LPMs will assist to plan, prepare, and implement (but not limited to) the following: weekly RCIA gatherings that inspire discipleship, accompaniment, and peer evangelization; an RCIA retreat; regular programs to help nourish communities of faith, theological reflection, a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith, and enliven the spirit of missionary discipleship.
Latinx Ministries & Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebrations - the LPMs for Latinx Ministries does outreach and builds relationships with the community of Latinx students on campus. Particular attention is to promote and provide opportunities for faith celebrations of Latinx heritage (e.g., Dia de los Muertos, Oscar Romero, LCN, Mexican Independence Day, Latin Heritage Month, and others that may not exist on campus at this time). The fall semester will be primarily dedicated to the planning, organization, and implementation of the celebrations honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe in November/December. These LPMs will also create awareness and advocate for issues of faith and justice, particularly those that affect the Latinx community.
Liturgical Music - the LPMs for Liturgical Music seek to provide liturgical music that fosters prayerful celebrations within campus liturgies, especially the weekly 8:00pm Mass on Sundays during the academic year. Along with serving as lead cantor and/or instrumentalist, these LPMs help plan, prepare, and implement (not limited to) the following: 1) Arrangement and selection of music that ensures there is beauty according to the three judgments of Catholic worship: musical, liturgical, and pastoral, and 2) Music rehearsal and peer mentorship of fellow student choir members.
Immersions - The LPMs for Immersions provide dynamic, timely, informative and sustainable immersions for SMC students. This position is responsible for: supporting and facilitating a sustainable, universal curriculum for all immersions (Salinas, The Border of Mexico/California, Los Angeles, other international sites TBD) as well as uniquely tailored curriculum for each immersion; finding additional student leaders/coordinators to collaborate with; developing relationships and partnerships/collaborations (internally and externally) with other experts in various relevant fields in order to authentically engage students in the exploration of the complex web of issues that impact these various communities.
Retreats - The LPMs for Retreats assist in the planning, organization, and implementation of at least two retreats during the year—The New Student Retreat (Fall Term) and another for any SMC students in the spring semester. Both retreats provide opportunities for students to deepen their faith, engage in a search for the sacred, and strengthen community and relationships.
Publicity & Outreach - the LPMs for Publicity & Outreach assist in promoting the programs and events of the MMC through publicizing the MMC's events, activities and programs (through flyers, website, social media, etc); coordinate MMC's representation at info fairs and other tabling events; update and maintain the MMC student contact list
Religious Diversity and Interfaith Partnerships - the LPM will work to plan, prepare, and implement (but not limited to) the following: opportunities for on-campus and off-campus partnerships to increase interfaith literacy and awareness across campus; design and provide oversight for communal meals that are intentional in establishing and nourishing interfaith relationships, understanding and knowledge.
GaelPantry - the LPMs for GaelPantry will market, recruit, and support all things related to the GaelPantry: Insure its staffing during GP open hours with trained student volunteers; Promote GP across campus with pop-ups and campus collaborations; Insure donations and the development of food items; Create marketing content to promote the GP-- to all students at SMC, but especially to to graduate, and commuter students; Collaborate with on-campus and off-campus partners to secure food donations; Shoot to hit 100 student visits a week (average) GP usage; Develop a “core training” to raise awareness of food insecurity on college campuses.
Fair Trade - the Fair Trade LPMs will plan, promote, and implement regular and special events for the Saint Mary’s College community (including monthly Fair Trade Fridays) that celebrate, sustain, and enhance SMC’s Fair Trade status by educating the the campus community about Fair Trade and related issues, tying into the Catholic and Lasallian values of SMC (including referencing Catholic Social Teaching, and using Catholic Relief Services resources where possible), collaborating with other departments and clubs across SMC, and building community
Lasallian Animator - the Lasallian Animators are students who have held previous leadership roles in the MMC and have a comfortable knowledge and lived experience of the Lasallian charism. Thus, they will provide support to MMC student leaders, both individually and as a team. This position requires that the LPM develop relationships with the team of LPMs, as well as partnerships with other student leaders across campus. In collaboration with the staff supervisor, they will be asked to assist with student leadership training, community nights, monthly meetings, and Lasallian formation/education.

In order to best promote and live out the vision of the Mission & Ministry Center, LPMs are expected to:

Be willing to explore issues of faith, sprirituality, and religion
Respect diversity of traditions, backgrounds, and opinions
Have strong oral and written communication skills
Basic familiarity with Google suite
Have a spirit of hospitality
Have a willingness to work hard and receive feedback
Be available for meetings and trainings related to their roles throughout the year, such as:
- Monthly all staff & student leader meetings (during Community Time)
- Regular 1-1 meetings with supervisor
- Mid-August before the fall semester begins, and assist with Weekend of Welcome including move-in for first year students (for LPMs)
Be actively present at "all hands on deck" MMC events, such as:
- Major masses: Mass of the Holy Spirit, Ash Wednesday, Commencement Mass
- De La Salle Heritage Days (April)
Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA

Contact the mmc: mmc@stmarys-ca.edu

Lasallian Community Leaders (paid via Educational Stipend)

Community Leaders:

The Lasallian living-learning Community Leaders help foster the development of the community and organize many of their events. These student leadership positions come from within the community, and receive educational scholarships. If interested, please apply first to be in the community. Read more HERE.

Lasallian Community: Contact Carrie Davis - cak6@stmarys-ca.edu

In order to best promote and live out the vision of the Mission & Ministry Center, Lasallian Community Leaders are expected to:

Be willing to explore issues of faith, sprirituality, and religion
Respect diversity of traditions, backgrounds, and opinions
Have strong oral and written communication skills
Basic familiarity with Google suite
Have a spirit of hospitality
Have a willingness to work hard and receive feedback
Be available for meetings and trainings related to their roles throughout the year, such as:
- Monthly all staff & student leader meetings (during Community Time)
- Regular 1-1 meetings with supervisor
- Mid-August before the fall semester begins, and assist with Weekend of Welcome including move-in for first year students (for LPMs)
Be actively present at "all hands on deck" MMC events, such as:
- Major masses: Mass of the Holy Spirit, Ash Wednesday, Commencement Mass
- De La Salle Heritage Days (April)
Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA

IT/Sacristans (Paid hourly per event)

Students serving as IT/Sacristans provide technical and liturgical support during special events in the SMC Chapel, inclusive of weddings, memorials, concerts, and other events. IT/Sacristans set up the microphones and sound equipment in the Chapel for these events, assist visiting and campus priests in the Sacristy and Chapel, and may be asked to serve as sacristans for special liturgies (i.e., weddings and memorials). This position requires confidence in oral communications, especially in highly emotional, high energy situations, and knowledge of the functions of Roman Catholic liturgy. Sacristans will be under the supervision of the Administrative Assistant/Wedding Coordinator, in collaboration with the Assistant Director for Liturgy.

Volunteer Opportunities (Not paid)

We welcome volunteers for all areas of programming and ministry. Please see the Lasallian Peer Minister tab for a full list of focus areas.

Highlighted opportunities:

8pm Sunday Mass (Student-led): Greeters/Ushers, Singers/Musicians, Acolytes (Altar Servers), Lectors, Hospitality Team & Eucharistic Ministers (this ministry is reserved for Confirmed Catholics)

GaelPantry