Lancers Care - Living and Learning Community Service

Matthew 25:34-40 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  Then the righteous will answer him. ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Lancers Care is an essential part of the Religion curriculum at Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac School designed to encourage our students to not only put their faith first but to put it into action.  Each grade, K-8, has an area of concentration or “service theme” which is age-appropriate and unchanging. The main component of the service theme is the adoption of a specific charity. Each year the class will either take a field trip to their charity for a day of service and fellowship or have a major service project on campus.  There will also be opportunities throughout the year to incorporate guest speakers, videos, books as well as written and handicraft projects to further enrich and serve the grade’s mission.

The goals of the program are to follow the example of Jesus in serving others, to teach compassion for those who are struggling in our community, our country and our world and to live out one aspect of Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac’s educational project to “extend our hands to those in need”.  The focus is on inspiring our students to think outside of themselves by giving their time and talent to help others and know they can make a difference in the lives of so many, outside of monetary donations. This adds an important component to religious education in igniting the desire in our children to give to others, to be of service, to empathize with and understand those who are different and to love our neighbors in their time of need.  As they transition through their years at Saint Jeanne, these invaluable experiences will be embedded in their character to carry with them through their lives as Christian leaders of the 21st century.

The following is a list of our Lancers Care Service Themes:

Kindergarten: “Caring for our Sick” with Kids Who Care

First Grade: “Supporting our Military” with Operation Help a Hero 

Second Grade: “Serving our Local Poor” with Second Harvest Food Bank

Third Grade: “Understanding our Friends with Special Needs” with Blind Children’s Learning Center

Fourth Grade: “Protecting our Mother Earth” with Pacific Marine Mammal Center

Fifth Grade: “Caring for our Sick” with The Val Foundation

Sixth Grade: “Respecting our Seniors” with Sunrise at Tustin

Seventh Grade: “Serving our Local Poor” with Isaiah House: Catholic Worker

Eighth Grade: "Comforting the Mourning" with Ronald McDonald House