On Tuesday, November 25, 2024, Catholic Central students and faculty participated in the annual Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge (GDK) Service Day.

“Today is Detroit Catholic Central’s Day of Service. Our goal is to get the kids out into the community. Like we always say, you don’t have to be great to serve, but you have to serve to be great. We took our group to Focus Hope in Detroit where we’re packing boxes of food for the homeless, and we’re teaching the kids to pour back into the community. That’s the goal for the day of service today,” stated Athletic Director Aaron Babicz ‘93.

During the annual service day, students, teachers, and staff, branch off into more than 40 designated GDK groups and perform community service in Detroit and surrounding areas. Activities ranged from fall cleanup, to packing food boxes for the homeless, spending time with senior citizens at an elderly care facility, and much more. 

Director of STEM, Amy Ely, who took her group to clean up Walled Lake Cemetery, explained, “We talk with the boys about showing respect when working, making note of the names and years people were born, and saying some prayers while they are doing it.”

Health Teacher Joe Mach’s homeroom visited St. Paul the Cross Retreat Center in Detroit, where students cleaned the Chapel, 85 rooms, the kitchen, and the outside grounds.

“This place has provided service to the community for many years, including Catholic Central. It’s very near and dear to our heart, so we’re trying to give back and make sure this remains a resource for the community for generations to come,” stated Mach. 

To start the day off, students and faculty met in the gymnasium where Father Fulton led with a prayer before the group watched a video, reminding participants of the importance of serving.

Students were then split into their homeroom groups and dismissed where they each traveled to their destinations for a morning of service.

This year, Shamrocks provided community service for Detroit, Novi, Plymouth, Southfield, Walled Lake, Commerce Township, Hamtramck, Wixom, Dearborn Township, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Township, and more. 

Learn more about service at Catholic Central by visiting www.catholiccentral.net/faith/service.