1. Called to Serve
Session 1

2. Called to Serve
We are called to serve from our Baptismal anointed to be priest, prophet and king.
As members of the Catholic Christian community, we promise to love and serve as Jesus did.
As volunteers, we are responding to Jesus’ call to serve, and can make a tremendous impact in the lives of other people.

3. Confirmation
Confirmation preparation may have been our first real experience in a service role.
The sacrament provides the grace, gifts needed to be active, responsible members of the community.
Our program aims to make you feel: capable, competent, and confident.

4. Called to Serve Program
We want to help you by:
Looking at what you’ll be doing
Offering suggestions and guidelines to make your service safe, meaningful, and nurturing.
You are ambassadors for Jesus. Through you, many people will experience the love of Jesus.

5. Today’s Plan We’ll define rights and responsibilities.
You are an example to younger children
They notice how you act
They notice what you say and do—it makes a lasting impression
You are a role model
This is a serious responsibility.

6. Appropriate behavior while working with children
Creating a safe environment
Establishing good behavioral boundaries
Keeping good boundaries between
You and the children
You and the other teens with whom you work
You and the adults with whom you work.

7. Activity One
What types of service or activities have you performed through your school or parish?
What was most enjoyable about your service?
What made it difficult?
How did you feel about your actions when you were finished?

8. The Plan
Today, we want to recognize that there are many diverse roles in the Church.
There are great gifts or charisms in every person.
However, we need to learn practical skills to help us and others succeed in our roles.

9. As People involved in Service
The Archdiocese of Detroit wants you to be:
Comfortable
Capable
Confident
and Christ-like in your service.

10. We Are Committed to Your safety The safety of those you serve
The safety of the vulnerable (children, youth, elderly, and people with disabilities).
We want to make you informed volunteers and employees--aware of proper behaviors for yourselves and others.

11. Training
This is to prepare you for service in your parish and the greater community to be caregivers.
You will need to rely on your training and the support of your adult supervisors.
Your supervisors want you to succeed, and you can rely on their help.

12. Expectations You Should Have:
To be properly trained
To observe or to assist an experienced volunteer
To learn on the job from another person
To ask what is in your authority to do
To ask about emergency procedures.

13. Expectations You Should Have:
You can expect to have the proper materials
You can expect to be trained on any equipment you may use
You can expect to be made familiar with the building or space that you are using
You can expect to never be left alone with a child or younger teen in your charge

14. Expectations You Should Have:
You can expect to never be criticized publicly if you make an error.
You can expect to never have to deal with an angry parent or guardian.
Refer the parent or guardian to your supervisor.
Let your supervisor know of any difficulty or incident that occurred that day.

15. Expectations:
These expectations apply to parish, schools, and community service roles.
Rules may vary, yet adult supervision and support is required.
You should never be left unsupervised in any situation.
You and the adult leadership are expected to maintain these guidelines.

16. Practice:
Simulations