Our motto: Servire Culturae Vitae

Our school's motto - "to serve the culture of life" - comes from Pope St. John Paul II's Encyclical Evangelium Vitae. In this document, he reaffirms the value and dignity of every human person, imploring the world to love, protect, and serve human life: 

"To all the members of the Church, the people of life and for life, I make this most urgent appeal, that together we may offer this world of ours new signs of hope, and work to ensure that justice and solidarity will increase and that a new culture of human life will be affirmed, for the building of an authentic civilization of truth and love." 

Father McGivney Catholic High School stands at witness to these teachings of Pope St. John Paul II by the implementation of its Service Program - Works of Mercy. This Service Program requires every student to perform a certain and increasing number of service hours each year in a variety of facets: within the student's parish, toward the school, and in the surrounding community. Students will individually give 70 hours or more in service to our community by their senior graduation. 

We strive not only to serve in ways that are fulfilling and fruitful for ourselves, but to evangelize the world through the example of Christ Himself, who came "not to be served, but to serve" (Lk 22:27, Mt 20:28, Mk 10:45) and instructed us that whatever He does, we "should also do" (Jn 13:15). 

"In this mobilization for a new culture of life no one must feel excluded: everyone has an important role to play. Together with the family, teachers and educators have a particularly valuable contribution to make. Much will depend on them if young people, trained in true freedom, are to be able to preserve for themselves and make known to others new, authentic ideals of life, and if they are to grow in respect for and service to every other person, in the family and in society."  (Evangelium Vitae)

What are the Works of Mercy? 

The Corporal Works of Mercy come directly from Jesus' teachings in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus instructs His followers, and therefore the Church, that anyone who considers himself a disciple should treat all others as if they were Christ in disguise. These actions are directed at the bodily or temporal needs of humanity.

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ 

And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, 

whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’" 

(Matthew 25:35-40)

The Spiritual Works of Mercy, on the other hand, are directed towards the incorporeal needs of the person. As humans are a body-soul composite, it is imperative to care for the needs of both the body as well as the soul. These Works of Mercy are found throughout Scripture - from the Prophets and Wisdom books to the Gospels and Epistles - and appear in the writings of numerous theologians and scholars. It is important to note that, while these works of mercy may be less visible to others because of their inward nature, they are equally as essential: just as our bodies needs healing from physical suffering, our souls need healing from spiritual suffering.