Christian Leadership Program (CLP)
Members of the CLP live in community at the Newman Center while working side by side with staff members and peers to develop their leadership skills, deepen their relationship with God, practice Christian service, and create lasting friendships!
CLP is open to both college men and women who are interested in new opportunities to grow spiritually while learning more about Christian leadership. This program could be just the thing for you!
Members of the program perform the following duties during the week:
- 4 hours of Internship
- 4 hours of Cleaning
- 2 hours of Prayer & Reflection, including time spent with a Spiritual Companion
- 1 hour of Newman Center Reception
- 1 hour of Christian Hospitality
- Community living in a home-like atmosphere
- Spiritual growth
- Valuable leadership experience
- Free housing at the Newman Center (including rent and utilities, excluding phone & cable)
- Free parking close to campus
- Jesus lives in your backyard
The purpose of the CLP internship is to provide CLP members with an opportunity to develop leadership skills through ministry experiences.
- Work an average of four hours per week.
- Complete work to the satisfaction of the mentor you are working with.
- You will be provided adequate instruction and guidance to complete the work.
- Keep a journal or some record of your experience.
- Meet with Mentor for at least one hour every two weeks for guidance and reflection on the internship experience. Complete evaluations each semester.
The internships are structured based on routine or standard ministries performed within the parish setting. Interns will help with the execution of these ministries. In order to provide room for personal growth, authority, and personal investment on the part of the intern, the internship structure includes an opportunity for interns to create a portion that corresponds with his or her areas of interest related to the area of ministry in which the internship lies. This can consist of special projects, research, or other tasks related to the ministry. The intern-generated portion of the internship will be determined by the intern with the help of the mentor and the approval of the CLP director.
Please note, this list of internship opportunities is not all encompassing. If an intern has a specific idea for an internship, he/she can work with the CLP director to create a new and unique internship.
The following internships are proposed for the 2007-2008 school year.
- Music Ministry
- Liturgical Ministry
- Stewardship
- Youth Group
- Small Faith Groups (Bible Study & Women's Group)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Social Justice
- Parish Retreats
- Pastoral Care
The purpose of the music ministry internship is to provide interns with an opportunity to learn about practical and conceptual aspects of music ministry. The intern can choose from any combination of the following jobs:
Music AccompanistThe music accompanist will assist the music minister by providing piano or guitar accompaniment during mass and music rehearsals. (May include special liturgies.)
Music LeaderThe music leader will lead extra rehearsals mainly for singers, but can also work with instrumentalists. (May include special liturgies.)
Music AssistantThe music assistant will perform tasks from the following list.
- Secretarial: Manage and organize sheet music, equipment, etc.
- Communications: Coordinate regular email, phone, and website communication among music volunteers.
- Promotion: Recruit, support, and encourage music volunteers; plan events to inspire membership.
- Research: Research new and innovative music liturgy resources and practices via Internet, professional publications, workshops, etc. to be utilized by the music ministry.
The purpose of the liturgical ministry internship is to provide interns with an opportunity to learn about practical and conceptual aspects of liturgical ministry not directly related to music. As part of the internship, the intern will do the following:
- Learn various liturgical roles including Eucharistic ministry, scripture reading, greeting, and mass coordination.
- Serve as a Mass Coordinator and/or be commissioned as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
- Learn how to preside at Communion Services, Adoration of the Eucharist, and Sunday liturgy in the absence of a priest.
- Recruit and train volunteer parishioners in all of the above ministries.
- Serve as a member of the Liturgy Committee.
The purpose of this internship is to promote stewardship throughout the parish community. Focus of the internship lies in the areas of time, talent, and treasure. The internship consists of some or all of the following areas of responsibility:
Time and Talent Ministry FairThe intern will be responsible for the following tasks related to the time and talent fair:
- Send recruiting letters to leaders of different ministries at St. Francis.
- Coordinate set up and tear down of the fair.
- Follow up with volunteers who signed up at the fair.
The intern will be responsible for initiating a sustainable recycling program with the St. Francis Parish. Tasks include:
- Research past and current community based recycling efforts.
- Recruit and train volunteers.
- Complete signage and instructions regarding the recycling program.
- Keep the parish informed of recycling efforts utilizing the bulletin.
- Promote recycling at F.E.P. and other Newman Center meetings.
The intern will work with the mentor to create a stewardship program for the Newman Center Students. Possible ideas include:
- Stewardship retreats/workshops emphasizing "life budgeting" relating to time, talent, and treasure.
- Parish development (fundraising) campaigns.
The purpose of this internship is to provide interns with the opportunity to learn practical and conceptual aspects of high school or junior high youth group ministry. Responsibilities include the following:
- Assist with the coordination of the High School and Jr. High youth group as part of the leadership team.
- Actively participate in the planning and implementation of the Youth Group Program.
The purpose of this internship is to provide interns with the opportunity to learn practical and conceptual aspects of leading and coordinating small faith groups. Responsibilities include the following:
- Organize thematic or scriptural based small faith sharing groups.
- Research small faith group resources.
- Recruit and train small faith group leaders.
- Recruit and promote small faith group membership.
- Coordinate regular meetings with small faith group leaders to monitor group progress, provide support, and share resources.
The purpose of this internship is to provide interns with the opportunity to learn practical and conceptual aspects of leading and coordinating children's liturgy of the word. The intern will be responsible for starting a sustainable program for our youngest parishioners. Tasks may include the following:
- Recruit and train volunteers.
- Plan liturgies geared toward children in grades K-3 at 9:00 or 11:15 mass based on that Sunday's readings.
- Lead the first two or three liturgies.
- Motivate and coordinate volunteer leaders throughout the year.
The purpose of this internship is to provide interns with the opportunity to learn practical and conceptual aspects of leading and coordinating social justice activities in a university parish setting. The intern will be responsible for creating a sustainable culture of service, based on Catholic Social Teaching. Tasks may include one or more of the following areas:
Haiti Mission Team- Serve as a Haiti Service Team Member.
- Assist Service Team Leader.
- Assist with Fundraising.
- Assist with logistical planning.
- Promote and recruit student involvement.
- Research and promote understanding of social justice issues for the Parish community.
- Make presentations or lead discussions regarding social justice topics at F.E.P. and Newman Center Events.
- Contribute to the parish bulletin by writing blurbs regarding social justice.
- Work with the CSUC Service Chair to promote a deeper understanding of service for CSU members by providing related background information pertaining to service projects.
The purpose of this internship is to provide interns with the opportunity to learn practical and conceptual aspects of planning and coordinating retreats. The intern will be responsible for helping to create retreats for the St. Francis and other area parish communities. Tasks may include the following:
Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP)- Attend and take an active part in the CRHP retreat.
- Discern a role on the retreat leadership team.
- Help give the retreat in the spring.
- Attend and take part in the follow up meetings to the CRHP retreat.
- Recruit and coordinate student involvement in CRHP working to respect and support the Newman Center Student Retreats.
- Recruit and train volunteer retreat leaders.
- Work with religious educators and mentor to plan retreat content.
- Plan and coordinate retreat preparation meetings with retreat team.
- Put on the retreat for local parishes.
The purpose of this internship is to provide interns with the opportunity to learn practical and conceptual aspects of pastoral ministry. Tasks may include the following:
- Recruit and train parishioners in active listening skills and pastoral care skills.
- Train parishioners in the procedure of bringing Communion to the sick.
- Regularly visit homebound and nursing home parishioners.
- Accompany a parishioner or vicar of the sick on hospital visits when appropriate.
- Lead reflection sessions with those ministering to homebound and nursing home parishioners.

