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Community Service


The Power of Serving Others

We believe that, as a Canterbury student, you should commit yourself to returning the good fortune in your life to those in need.

To that end, we seek to instill in you a sense of responsibility for, and dedication to, a lifetime of volunteer service, whether that be locally, nationally, or internationally.

While community service is not a requirement at Canterbury, the vast majority of students choose to participate, often alongside our faculty. You can volunteer in food banks, nursing homes, social service agencies, and animal shelters or work with disadvantaged families, students in local schools, and athletes in the Special Olympics. You can also take part in two exceptional experiences abroad—one in Nicaragua, where you work on projects designed to help break the cycle of poverty, and another in Lourdes, France, where you assist the visiting sick in completing their pilgrimage to the Marian shrine.

Service Opportunities

Here is just a sampling of the many chances you’ll have to help others while at Canterbury:

“Even if we did not speak the same language, when we gifted one of our handmade rosaries or simply exchanged a smile with someone, those moments shared with strangers in Lourdes were unlike any other. We also became closer with each other and reflected on who we are as individuals.”

Sylvia Pinheiro ’24

Community Service Events

Students at a community service event.