Benilde-St. Margaret’s has given students the opportunity to participate in their eucharistic ministry program for 39 years. This provides students with the ability to enhance their faith and relationship with Jesus. Campus Minister, Mike Jeremiah has been a huge part in running and starting this program in 1975. It’s the only ministry at BSM that requires the distributors to be Catholic, as well as confirmed.
There are 47 seniors in this year’s group of eucharistic ministers. To join students are required to fill out a Google form that is sent to Jeremiah with their commitment to participate. It is a completely optional program for students to participate in and another unique opportunity that Catholic education and BSM provides. Students who want to participate are invited to come together to learn more about the program and its concepts and how to serve their peers. They are then assigned to two masses over the course of the school year. “There are times when people say, young people, you are the future of the church. No, I don’t believe that. You are the church so anything that we can do to include and help them to feel a part of their church today,” Jeremiah said.
Current BSM seniors are eager to get started with the program. Their installation to the ministry will be held during the all-school mass on Wednesday, October 11th. They will be able to start distributing and find joy in growing their faith along with their other classmates. This is an awesome year to be a part of the program, as BSM is celebrating its 50th year from the merger of Benilde and St. Margaret’s Academy. There are a lot of emotions leading up to Wednesday’s mass. “I’m very excited to be installed. But I’m also nervous for my first mass because I don’t want to mess up,” senior Frances Steichen said.
Along with current BSM seniors beginning to serve, many past alumni have had touching memories of being a eucharistic minister. Being involved in the program has allowed students to grow and see their classmates involved in something larger than themselves. “Being a eucharistic minister helped my faith because it was an opportunity to see so many people I knew be active in their faith,” said 2022 graduate Tilly Wolfe in a text interview.
The Eucharistic Ministry program helps students seek the Lord and continue to serve with classmates in a different way. “The fact that I was helping them in some small way was really special to me,” said Wolfe.