About Paraclete High School
Ministry
For more information contact Fr. Giampietro Gasparin at frg@paracletehs.org
The Office of Campus Ministry empowers the Paraclete students to develop a more mature faith, and to apply it to their daily life.
The Office of Campus Ministry accomplishes this mission by various services offered to the students: a ministry of presence and accompaniment, a ministry of liturgy and prayer; a ministry of events.
Students at Paraclete High School are not simply the object of these services: they are constantly challenged to act as protagonists in their own and in their peer’s faith development.
Ministry of Presence and Accompaniment
The Campus Minister is physically present at every step of a student’s life at Paraclete: in the classrooms, at break and lunch time, at extra curricular activities.
The Campus Minister is present at many significant events away from the school, too: at sports competitions, at drama productions, at choir and band performances.
The Campus Minister accompanies the Paraclete student by offering spiritual direction, emotional support and moral guidance.
The Campus minister, whenever requested, is also available for family ministry (blessing of homes, family celebrations, visitation of the ill…)
Ministry of Liturgy and Prayer
The Campus Minister provides for the daily celebration of the Eucharist at the Paraclete chapel and makes available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation upon request.
The Campus Minister coordinates the monthly All-School Liturgies, the Advent and Lent Communal Penance Services, and other seasonal religious celebrations.
The Campus Minister encourages the practice of individual prayer by inviting students to frequent the chapel, and providing an Intention Booklet as well as a Reflection Notebook at the entrance to the chapel.
The Campus Minister encourages Adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist at significant times of the school year.
Ministry of Events
The Campus Minister promotes, organizes and leads unique opportunities for the Paraclete students to grow in their faith.
The Campus Minister ensures students’ participation in events coordinated by the Los Angeles Archdiocese, such as Campus Ministry meetings and workshops, or Youth Day at the beginning of the L.A. Religious Education Congress.
The Campus Minister coordinates and leads student participation in events also at the national level, such as the National Catholic Youth Conference or the National March for Life in Washington, D.C.
The Campus Minister coordinates and leads, finally, international events, such as pilgrimages and the World Youth Day celebration.
Retreats
Paraclete High School students are urged to celebrate one retreat for every year of attendance at Paraclete High School. Students may fulfill this requirement by participating in a Class Retreat, as offered by Campus Ministry, or by participating in any retreat, even non-Catholic, approved in advance by the Campus Minister.
Class Retreats
The campus minister plans, coordinates and directs a retreat for each class level. While the Freshman, Sophomores and Junior retreats are one-day experiences, the Senior retreat is offered as a one-night overnight experience.
Special Events Retreats
The Campus Minister also sponsors special events retreats. Examples of these are Youth Day at the L.A. Religious Education Congress, or the Fast 4 Food experience.
Sports Teams, Clubs Retreats
The Campus Minister is available, upon request by coaches or moderators, to create and direct retreats for Paraclete sports teams, drama, choir, band, or club teams.
Non-Paraclete sponsored Retreats
The Campus Minister coordinates the proper recording of independent or non-Paraclete sponsored retreats. Students who opt for this alternative, must inform the Campus Minister before they celebrate such retreat, and provide written proof of satisfactory completion of such retreat.
The COR Retreat
The Campus Minister offers the COR Retreat 3 times a year to the Paraclete student body, and assumes the spiritual guidance of the same retreat.
COR (Latin for “heart”, or “Christ in Others Retreat”) is offered to students who are second semester sophomores or older.
COR is a two-overnight, three day retreat. It consists in a profound experience of Christian community where participants strengthen their faith and find healing of relationships. It constantly proves to be an extraordinary blessing in the lives of the students.
The Faculty Retreat
The Campus Minister coordinates and directs the yearly Faculty Retreat.
Christian Service
The Christian Service aspect is coordinated by Paraclete’s Religion Department and each individual theology teacher.
The general policy of Paraclete’s Christian Service states:
Christian Service is the natural expression of a student’s faith and Christian commitment.
Each Paraclete Freshman and Sophomore student is required to complete 10 hours of service per semester of attendance.
Each Paraclete Junior and Senior student is required to complete 15 hours of service per semester of attendance.
