The Office of Campus Ministry is responsible for the spiritual and faith development of the St. John’s Prep community. There are three major ways this mission is accomplished: liturgy, retreats and service.
Liturgy
St. John’s Prep is blessed to have two wonderful priests, Fr. Charles Gilley and Fr. Liju Augustine. Fr. Gilley and Fr. Liju offer daily Masses to the SJP community. In addition to these Masses, we have solemn Mass at the beginning of the school year, Thanksgiving, Advent and Holy Week. Reconciliation services take place during Advent and Lent. Additionally, both Fr. Liju and Fr. Gilley are available on a weekly basis for any student who desires the Sacrament of Reconciliation or spiritual direction.
Retreats
St. John’s Prep has the largest and most extensive retreat program in the Diocese of Brooklyn. We have a retreat center on site that allows us to offer approximately 40 retreats each year at no additional cost to our students.
Fr. Liju Augustine organizes the retreat program assisted by many skilled faculty members, and select members of our senior class. Student leaders participate in two formation weekends each year that focus on their spiritual and ministerial development. The Campus Ministry Faculty Advisor team leads these formation weekends. Some of the themes for our student retreats include new beginnings (for our incoming freshmen), values and diversity, growing in Christian relationships, discipleship, vocations and service.
The Campus Ministry Formation Weekend
Click on this link to view a video of our Campus Ministry Program
Service
One of the values that we instill within our students is the recognition of the intrinsic dignity and value that exists in every human person as a result of being created by, and the image of, God. With this knowledge comes responsibility, and at St. John’s Prep our students understand it is their Christian duty to care for their neighbor as well as themselves.
Campus Ministry provides many opportunities for students to serve others. St. John’s Prep students have participated in NY Cares Days and overnight service-learning projects as well as serving in local soup kitchens. Additionally, our students are involved with the non-profit organization Handcrafting Justice. The St. Vincent de Paul society, The Catholic Worker, and the Junior Ladies Charity are clubs dedicated to community development through service projects.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions that you may have concerning our Campus Ministry Program.
Fr. Liju Augustine
Director of Campus Ministry
718-721-7200 x. 630