At the heart of Saint Joseph’s, we are steeped in the tradition of our Mercy values. Our Mercy values call us to take care of the needs of those less fortunate. Here, community grows in our students, faculty and staff, who recognize learning as a tool to lift ourselves in the service of others. Our entire campus community strives to model service and involvement as means for both personal and social transformation.

Guatemala service trip
Spring Break Workfest
Six women are standing in a line outdoors, smiling at the camera. They are casually dressed, wearing jeans and a mix of sweatshirts and hoodies. They're next to a building with a sidewalk and grassy area, possibly having just finished some Community Service at Mercy Center. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Partners for World Health

Mercy Center

Helping students build community and promoting good in the world

The Mercy Center is the campus’ center for social justice, ministry, and community engagement. The Center encourages and promotes student development through community engagement opportunities, social justice advocacy and awareness, domestic and international immersion opportunities, liturgical celebrations, retreats, spiritual direction, interfaith services, and pastoral counseling.

Service trip: Student testing for anemia in Guatemalan family
Service: Social work students volunteer at a diaper drive
Students fill Thanksgiving boxes for local families
Service trip: Anemia testing in Guatemala
Three women standing in a room filled with supplies at the Mercy Center, smiling and holding packaged goods including baby diapers, baby formula, and toilet paper. Their community service efforts are evident in the well-stocked shelves around them. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Two people are filling blue bags with canned goods and other non-perishable items on a wooden table in a room with stone walls and wooden chairs. This act of community service is part of their ongoing efforts at the Mercy Center. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Get involved. Jump outside of your comfort zone. Have some fun.

Student volunteer

Volunteer in the Community

Let the Mercy Center connect you with many ways to help in the local community. We have many community partners.

  • American Red Cross
  • Camp Sunshine
  • Food Pantries
  • Catholic Charities
  • and more

We’ve got an organization that will fit your interests!

Service Trip Highlights

International Service trip to Guatemala

International Service Trip

Join our annual trip to Guatemala and provide medical aid and help build basic cinder-block homes.

Volunteer for Spring Break Workfest

Spring Break Workfest

During spring break, students participate in week-long programs serving the underprivileged in locations across the U.S.

A group of people in warm clothing stand and lean over, facing away from a metallic roller door by the Mercy Center. It appears to be nighttime, hinting at their commitment to community service. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Midnight Run

Join area churches and civic groups to distribute food, clothing, and blankets to the homeless poor on the streets of New York City.

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Students Participate in Community Service
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Organizations Served
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Campus-wide Community Service

Beth Auger Day of Service

Named after a beloved faculty member, the Beth Auger Day of Service allows the College community to serve the wider community. Saint Joseph’s employees, alumni, and students volunteer to serve at one of several service sites providing housing improvements for veterans and the elderly, re-purposing of medical supplies to reduce waste and support those in need, clean up summer camps for low-income youth, and support for refugee resettlement services.

Beth Auger Day of Service
Beth Auger Day of Service
Beth Auger Day of Service

Thanksgiving Annual Pie Baking and Box Distribution

An annual tradition since 2007, students, faculty, and staff collect food items and gather to make apple pies. Last year’s our College community distributed 1,500 pounds of food to our local community. Over 70 local families received the Thanksgiving Boxes that included turkey, pie, canned goods, stuffing, fruit and a handwritten note.

Social Justice

Learn about the issues that oppress the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized. Perform Works of Mercy, meet our neighbors face-to-face and get to know their stories.

Respect Life

The dignity of human life is at the very core of Christian doctrine. Campus Ministry engages in several activities in support of this most basic human right, the right to life.

Mercy Service Corps

Mercy Service Corps is a student group performing community service through Federal Work-Study positions, AmeriCorps, scholarships, and volunteers who have a passion for helping out their community.

Sophia Viger

International Service, Spring Break Workfest

Sophia 1
Sophia 2

“During the trip one of the things that surprised me the most was the joy I felt the whole time. We often put such a pressure on happiness being attached to physical item or money, but this trip allowed me to see that joy becomes abundant when you are serving those in need with people who have a passion for service as well.”

Emma 1

Emma Ranzetta

Spring Break Workfest

“After being on two spring break workfest trips I would want other students to know that you might learn things about yourself that you never knew before. In my case my junior year I had to learn that I suffer with social anxiety. My senior year I learned that you should never judge people without truly getting to know them, you never know where or when you will meet a new best friend.”

Emma 2

Rachel Gardella

Spring Break Workfest

Rachel 1
Rachel 2

“A community is made up of many building blocks and although we weren’t helping out in public, the farm is one building block of the community and it takes many places like the farm to build a strong community. As part of the community, the farm donates vegetables, honey, and other products to those in need.”

Sophia Viger

International Service, Spring Break Workfest

Sophia 1

“During the trip one of the things that surprised me the most was the joy I felt the whole time. We often put such a pressure on happiness being attached to physical item or money, but this trip allowed me to see that joy becomes abundant when you are serving those in need with people who have a passion for service as well.”

Sophia 2

Emma Ranzetta

Spring Break Workfest

Emma 1

“After being on two spring break workfest trips I would want other students to know that you might learn things about yourself that you never knew before. In my case my junior year I had to learn that I suffer with social anxiety. My senior year I learned that you should never judge people without truly getting to know them, you never know where or when you will meet a new best friend.”

Emma 2

Rachel Gardella

Spring Break Workfest

Rachel 1

“A community is made up of many building blocks and although we weren’t helping out in public, the farm is one building block of the community and it takes many places like the farm to build a strong community. As part of the community, the farm donates vegetables, honey, and other products to those in need.”

Rachel 2

Contact

Kathryn Cody Russell
Director of Mercy Center
207-893-7794
kcody@sjcme.edu