Fall 2023 Day of Service

On Friday, December 8, Gonzaga hosted its Fall Day of Service, with the school community traveling across the Washington region to perform community service. An opportunity to reinforce our mission and strengthen our community, the Day of Service happens once each semester. 
 
Organized by Gonzaga's Campus Ministry Office, the day began with an all-school Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in St. Aloysius Church. To frame our day, students were encouraged to ask themselves, “Who Is Knocking at My Door?” 

 

This question refers to the Church's call to a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and echoes the following quote from Pope Francis: "Every stranger who knocks at our door is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed and rejected strangers of every age.” 

 

After Mass, sophomores, juniors, and seniors fanned out to more than 20 service sites across DC and Maryland. Sites included public parks (Rock Creek Songbirds Habitat), churches (Holy Names Parish) , non-profit organizations (Special Olympics), assisted living facilities (Unique Residential), and more. Meanwhile, freshmen remained on campus where they had the opportunity to engage in a variety of exercises and service projects to open their eyes to the needs of others. 

After returning to campus, students gathered with their homeroom teachers to discuss and reflect on their service work. We hope you enjoy the photos below: