What is Big Brothers Big Sisters?

Service and Social Justice Opportunities

Respond to the Gospel's call to actively live out a faith that promotes service, peace and social justice.

On-Campus Service Opportunities
Local Service Opportunities
National Service Opportunities
International Service Opportunities
Post-Graduate Service Opportunities


ON-CAMPUS SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES



Best Buddies


Best Buddies is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.

Contact Dr. Laura Sloan for more information.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters


Make a difference and mentor at-risk children from local elementary schools on campus every Wednesday.
  • Help tutor a child with their homework
  • Create meaningful friendships
  • Held on campus at the Sancta Alberta Chapel
See Romeoville Patch article: Bigs, Littles Get the Red Carpet Treatment.


Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month

  • "From Homeless to Homeowner" lecture with Morning Star staff Mary (Nov. 14 at 10am)
  • Sleep Out for Hunger - Crimson Street Project - Thursday, November 29th
  • Service Opportunities
    1. Beginning Oct. 31 - Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat: all food due Friday, November 16th
    2. November 13th, November 20th and November 27th - Volunteer to serve food at a soup kitchen on Tuesdays
    3. Friday, November 16th - Help make sandwiches for the homeless and pass them out in the streets of Chicago with The Night Ministry
    4. Beginning Sunday, November 18th - Adopt a person or family for Christmas with our annual Christmas Giving Tree starting on in S. A. Chapel. All gifts are due on Sunday, December 2nd.
  • November 20th - Help pass out Thanksgiving food at a local shelter. Two volunteers shifts available from either 7:45 am (meet in front of Lewis) to 11:30am pm and then from 12:45pm - 4pm.

STAND


STAND meets every Wednesday, from 5:15-6:15pm in the Morton Boston Room (Student Union). Everyone is welcome to attend. STAND also holds regular movie nights and runs the annual STAND for Rights Week. STAND, a Catholic Relief Services Campus Ambassador Program, advocates for human rights, and is committed to assisting the poor and vulnerable by promoting social justice and peace.




Catalyst Team


The Catalyst Team dedicates the fall semester to become a leader for social justice on campus. They accomplish this through service projects, prayerful reflection and spreading the good news to others. In spring, the team leads the Catalyst Retreat for their peers.







LOCAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES



Morning Star Mission


Help serve the poor in a local soup kitchen in Joliet. Transportation is provided, but volunteers must sign up ahead of time.

4 - 6 PM on:
Tuesday, November 20
Tuesday, November 27

Additional opportunities to work with Morning Star Mission include:
  • Tuesday, Nov. 20 - Thanksgiving Food Basket Distribution
    8:30am - 11:30am
  • Tuesday, Dec. 20th - Distribute food and Christmas gifts to individuals and families
    8:30am - 11:30am
  • Adopt a Child Easter Basket Drive - You may select to adopt a homeless and low-income child of Morning Star Mission ranging from infant to 16 years old. Baskets Due March 16th.

Feed My Starving Children


Help end world hunger with this non-profit Christian organization that provides food for hungry people worldwide.

The Night Ministries


Help make sandwiches and feed the homeless of Chicago with the Night Ministries.

Christmas Giving Tree


Adopt a low-income homeless family or individual for Christmas by purchasing some basic necessities like a warm coat, clothes, blanket, toiletries, etc. Select a family or individual off the Christmas Giving Tree, located in Sancta Alberta Chapel starting on Nov 18. Gifts are due Dec 4th.


NATIONAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES



Habitat for Humanity


Help eliminate poverty housing. This ecumenical Christian housing ministry works in partnership with people to build simple, decent and affordable shelter. So far, more than 55,000 houses have been built for nearly 300,000 people!
May, 2013



Eco-Justice Immersion


Learn about caring for God's Earth by working on an environmentally sustainable farm in Racine, WI. You will get a chance to work with farm animals including: alpacas, goats, chickens, rabbits, ducks, geese and honeybees. You will also help plant in the community gardens while learning about ways to reduce human strain on Earth.
May 2013





LUMINATE - National Immersion Trips


Spring Break - March 3rd-9th
Spend your Spring Break serving at 3 different locations in the nation - TBD

Important Dates:
Informational - Monday, Oct. 29th at 7:00pm
Applications Due - Monday, Nov. 19th
Interviews - 11/26-12/7
The Big Reveal - Monday, Dec. 10th
Day of Formation - Sunday, Feb. 10th, 1-5pm
Send-Off Mass - Thursday, Feb. 28th – 8pm
Spring Break Trips - March 3-9
Day of Reflection - Sunday, March 24th, 1-5pm

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES



Diocesan University Mission to Bolivia


Serve the poor for 2 weeks in the capital of Sucre, Bolivia. Every year since 1998, Lewis faculty, staff and students travel to Sucre, Bolivia with the Diocese of Joliet to work with the impoverished children and youth in the barrios, orphanages and streets, as well as deliver donations of school supplies, toys and medical supplies to the local hospital, parishes and communitites.

Application process begins in October, 2012.
Mission trip will take place June 4-20, 2013.

Diocesan University Mission to the Philippines


Build a house for the poor on this two week mission trip to Bacolod City, Philippines. Volunteers will build a house with Gawad Kalinga - an organization that provides housing and services for the poor. Students will also have the opportunity to meet and volunteer alongside Filipino college students. Lodging is provided on the campus of the University of St. Lasalle - a Christian Brothers university.

Mission Trip Dates: Jan. 1st-13th, 2013

POST-GRADUATE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES



Lasallian Vounteer Program


Respond to Christ's call to serve others, especially the poor. This 1-2 year commitment involves working in the field of Christian education or human development services in the United States. For more information, visit the Lasallian Volunteers site or contact Alina Rivas at (815) 836-5049.

"I graduated from Lewis in 2008 with a BA in Theology, and decided to join Lasallian Volunteers and give back a year of my time. I am serving in Brooklyn, NY at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School as a Campus Minister. I love seeing our students own their faith, when they can define 'this is what I believe and why I believe it'. I have learned so much in my year of service, and hope I can continue the work of St. John Baptist de la Salle after leaving the Lasallian volunteers."
- Michelle Hoffman


Vocational Opportunities


Consider ministry options beyond Lewis. Have you considered life as a professed religious? Consider a long-term volunteer commitment or seek out a connection to a parish or faith congregation. Look for the "Visions" resource booklet in the Ministry Center for more information, or talk with a ministry staff member. Note: Lewis University has a special connection to Br. Stephen Markham, FSC, Director of Vocations/Formation for the Christian Brothers of the Midwest, at (630) 323-3725.

Contact ministry@lewisu.edu with any questions or to sign up.