Called to Serve: Archbishop John L. May Service Award Honorees Gather for a Day of Reflection
Twenty-four seniors. Every Catholic high school across the archdiocese represented. One shared mission: to serve Christ by serving others.
Next month, these students will be formally recognized as recipients of the Archbishop John L. May Service Award. But before the day of the ceremony, they gathered at the Cardinal Rigali Center for a Day of Reflection to be reminded why they serve.
The morning began with prayer, led by Fr. Carl Scheble, during which students were invited to reflect on the deeper meaning of Christian service—not simply fulfilling hours, but living the Gospel with intention, courage, and love.
The students divided into two groups to take on different service projects, forming a bond as they worked together. One group assembled care bags for the Archdiocese’s Rural Parish Mobile Clinic, thoughtfully preparing supplies that will support families with limited access to healthcare resources. The other group assisted the Reclamation Center of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, a storage facility where items once used during Mass and in parishes are carefully preserved when parishes close, merge, or are repurposed. These blessed objects — chalices, crucifixes, statues, and other liturgical items — are reverently inventoried and prepared to find new homes in parishes across the archdiocese, the country, and even the world.
For the students assisting with inventorying, this work carried special significance. As they were reminded that the Church is living and global and that items with such meaning and history that once served one community can go on to bless another.
The day concluded with a time of theological reflection, during which students prayerfully considered their service experiences, connecting their work to a deeper understanding of their faith and recognizing how God is actively present in the world, and in their own lives.
Throughout the day the room carried a sense of quiet joy. These were not just students fulfilling a requirement but young leaders recognized by their peers and school officials for extraordinary service beyond what is asked of them. They represent what Catholic education aims to form: graduates who do not simply succeed but also serve.
As they prepare to receive the Archbishop John L. May Service Award on March 3, these 24 seniors stand as a testament to the mission of Catholic secondary schools across the Archdiocese of St. Louis: forming young men and women who live their faith with both charity and advocacy, compassion and conviction.
In their generosity and leadership, these students remind us that the future of the Church is not only bright but is already at work.
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About the Archbishop John L. May Service Award
Purpose of the Award:
- To provide Catholic secondary schools with the opportunity to recognize and encourage a senior student who is an outstanding example of rendering Christian service within their community and school.
- To give visibility to Catholic secondary schools in their mission of Christian service.
- To emphasize Christian service that involves both charity and advocacy to change unjust social structures.
Basic Qualifications:
Eligibility for nomination requires that a nominee:
- Is currently a senior.
- Is currently participating in volunteer service (in the school and/or greater community) that demonstrates Gospel values.
- Is recognized by peers and/or school officials for extraordinary achievement in service above that required by the school.
- Is nominated by principal, committee, or school service moderator.
- Is able to attend the Reflection Day