Our Vision

Our love is not to be just words or mere talk,
but something real and active. (Jn.3:18)

Trinity College is committed to instilling in its students the belief that what we learn is to be put in service of all God's creation, especially people in need. The Christian Service programme is responsible for organising a curriculum, programmes, and events that provide students with an opportunity to appreciate and experience this vocation to service.

Christian Service at Trinity offers a process of building relationships with others, not just doing something for others. The process involves recognition not only of the needs of others but also their gifts. It is about allowing others to share their gifts with us and minister to us, thus promoting an experience that can be mutually beneficial. Such service can enable those who are invisible, voiceless, or devalued in our society to become seen, heard, and valued.

Education for justice and service to others are essential elements of a Trinity education, and our students make a progressively greater commitment to service throughout their five years in the senior school.

The Christian Service programme is an essential part of the Trinity College educational experience. Rooted in the 200 year old tradition of Blessed Edmund Rice, service with the marginalized and disenfranchised of society is an essential part of a rich and integrated educational tradition that includes academics, co-curricular activities, the arts and spirituality. Through their various service experiences, it is hoped that the virtues of generosity, compassion and wisdom will be further developed in each young man. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy along with a preferential option for the poor are intended as guidelines for student service through Trinity College.

The Christian Service Programme and the Senior Project are regarded as important enough to our students' development that Trinity makes them requirements for graduation. In short, the one word explanation of the requirement is Love, love given and love received.

Their participation encourages them to take responsibility for their growth as persons. The process of choosing a placement has each student assessing his talents and limitations. He will be learning to accept himself as he challenges himself to grow. Reflection group meetings during the periods of service will help develop the habit of reflecting on his experience, an essential part of his growth into manhood.

The Christian Service requirements will help each student become more intellectually competent as he realises education occurs beyond the classroom. He will be applying his knowledge and skills to new situations. He will confront issues of social justice that will call for intellectual integrity. Both his service and his reflection group meetings will develop his critical consciousness. He will evaluate issues and approaches to those issues.

The service each student offers will foster his leadership growth. Jesus provided an example of leadership by washing his disciples' feet. After serving and reflecting upon his service, Trinity wants each student to use Christian principles in formulating his thoughts upon the issues he confronts. We want him to act with humility and love as he argues effectively against those who violate justice. The requirement will help him to see that true leadership involves both service and intellectual persuasion.

By each student's involvement in Christian Service, Trinity wants him to examine his religious beliefs and establish closer ties to his religious community. We want him to explore and validate his faith. He has read and studied the Gospel in the classroom; his involvement in these requirements provides the opportunity to live Christ's values.

The Christian Service requirement will strengthen the student's commitment to doing justice and his motivation to live as a man for others. He will see more deeply that Christian faith calls forth a commitment to a just society that overcomes the structural roots of injustice. He will see what needs to be confronted in some of the values promoted by Western culture. He will see that the values of our consumer society are sometimes in conflict with the demands of a just society and the Gospel.

Finally, Christian Service and the Senior Project help to move each student beyond self-interest in his relationships. He will become more loving. Through service of others he will appreciate even more the satisfaction of giving oneself for other people. He will be more capable of putting himself in another person's place and understanding what that person is feeling. Through the love and acceptance the student will give to others and receive from others, he will come to love and accept himself even more. Trinity wants each student to realise that love calls for a decision to give of oneself and follow through on that commitment by doing the work that love calls forth.

The Christian Service Logo