Student Leader Application

The Duke Catholic Center is a spiritual home where Duke students encounter the transformative love of the Heart of Christ - in the Gospel, in the Sacraments, and in community with one another - so that students become formed as Christian leaders and apostles.

In joining the Student Director team, you are committing to living out this mission in partnership with the DCC.

• Holy Week: ALL Student Directors must assist DCC staff during Holy Week (04/02/26 - 04/05/26). The Triduum will involve a total of 5 liturgies over the course of 4 days in addition to a preparation meeting for Student Directors of Liturgy. While the Student Directors of Liturgy will play a special role during this sacred time, we rely on the servant-leadership of every Student Director to help us prepare. The importance of your work during this time cannot be overstated and is a requirement.
• Mass and Holy Hour are the foremost priorities. None of what we do is possible without Jesus. It is all about a relationship with Christ, and it is He who works in and through us. Therefore, it is essential to nourish this relationship through the Eucharist. We ask you to attend Mass every Sunday and commit to attending Wednesday Holy Hours at 8 PM each week.
• Commit to taking 10-20 minutes for prayer each day (it is impossible to have a relationship with someone you never speak to).
  • Ensure that your role as Student Director is a priority. The best way to be a Student Director is to bring your whole self - this includes your gifts and connections as they relate to other roles you have at Duke. This position will help form you in a way that allows you to live more fully and be involved in other aspects of your life at Duke. But to fully receive this formation requires fully committing to your position. Therefore, please prioritize your programming and our regular meetings outside of personal health, academic commitments, and employment.
• Attend biweekly meetings with the full Student Director team.
• Attend monthly check-in with the campus minister.
• Agree to abide by the Student Director Code of Conduct (see below).

By virtue of our baptism, all Catholics share in the mission of the Church to continue the work of Jesus Christ. We have the great privilege to know, love, and serve Christ, and we should orient our lives around inviting other people into that relationship.

The call to discipleship is abundant in grace. It is also an awesome responsibility. As a Student Director, you represent not only yourself, but the DCC and, in a way, the Catholic Church as a whole. Your role as a leader gives you a particular position of trust which comes with particular obligations - your behavior, both public and private, has the potential to inspire those entrusted to the pastoral care of the DCC to faith and hope and to motivate them toward greater participation in a life of faith. When that trust is abused, it has the potential to cause scandal and to weaken or destroy faith. It is therefore essential that you are constantly mindful of the trust given to you.

Faithfully discharging the responsibilities that accompany our work requires constant prayerful reflection and must be sustained and supported by God’s grace. Our obligations require each of us to act with love and prudence. The Student Director Code of Conduct assists in this task.

These statements do not presume to provide answers to all ethical questions. They present a set of general standards to help guide day-to-day actions and form a framework for developing policies and discussing moral/ethical questions. All Student Directors, when accepting their position, agree to abide by this Code of Conduct and understand that disregarding these principles through personal conduct or a lifestyle contrary to the moral and religious teachings of the Roman Catholic Church may prompt conversations with DCC ministry staff. Persistent breaches of the Code of Conduct may lead to removal from a position of ministry leadership.

As stated in your Student Director application, perfection is not expected. What is expected is a good faith effort to live these standards as Student Directors, and a commitment to seeking help from a member of the ministry staff if you ever find yourself struggling to understand or follow these principles.

All Student Directors will:

1. Respect and uphold the teachings and precepts of the Catholic Church.
2. Respect and uphold the rights, dignity and worth of each person from conception to natural death.
3. Conduct their relationships with others free of deception, manipulation, exploitation, or intimidation.
4. Seek to provide an environment that is non-discriminatory, free from all forms of abuse, and that promotes respect, self control, and personal safety.
5. Be responsible stewards of the human, temporal, and financial resources of the DCC with which they are entrusted.
6. Maintain a high level of competence in their designated role in the DCC and prudently attend to their physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being.
7. Behave in a way that promotes the welfare of the community as a whole and exemplifies the strong moral tradition of the Church.

Please put these on your calendar - attendance at these events is mandatory. If you know ahead of time that you will be unable to make a particular date, please communicate this with Monica Cronin (monica.cronin@duke.edu) as soon as possible - exceptions will be considered on a case by case basis. 

• SD COMMISSIONING:
  • January 11, 2026 at 11 AM Mass in Goodson Chapel 
• UNDERGRADUATE SD MEETINGS: Except where otherwise noted, all meetings are on Sundays at 12:30 PM and will last one hour.
  • Spring 2026: January 25, February 15, March 22**, April 12
  • Fall 2026: September 13, September 27, October 18***, November 1, November 15

**The SD Meeting on Sunday, March 22, 2026, will begin at 5 PM to accommodate for the Silent Retreat that is happening that weekend, and will last 1.5 hours, to include preparation for Holy Week.

***The SD Meeting on Sunday, October 18, 2026, will begin at 1 PM to accommodate for the Family Weekend Brunch following the 11 AM Mass.

• RETREATS: 
  • Spring Student Director Retreat: January 10, 2026: 11 AM - 5 PM
  • Fall Student Director Retreat: August 29, 2026: 11 AM - 5 PM
  • Duc in Altum: November 6-8 (tentative), 2026

TWO POSITIONS AVAILABLE

• Attend Mass weekly to oversee liturgical ministers and assist liturgical work studies with set-up as necessary
• Arrive 30 minutes before Mass to ensure that all Sunday Masses are properly staffed
• Stay to ensure everything is taken down after Mass (usually takes about 30 minutes after Mass)
• Recruit, coach, and supervise liturgical volunteers (EMs, lectors, altar servers, sacristans, hospitality ministers)
• Assist with special liturgies (holy days of obligation, Holy Week liturgies, etc.)
• Assist with setup and takedown for daily Masses and Wednesday Holy Hours 

TWO POSITIONS AVAILABLE

• Support the DCC’s mission of being a space for Catholic students of all backgrounds where they can be seen and valued, and promote a welcoming and fun community by creating social opportunities for the ministry as a whole
• Plan and execute programming for different cultural heritage months and religious/cultural celebrations
• Create social media campaigns around cultural and religious moments with the support of the DCC Communications Coordinator
• Recruit and manage a team of Socials coordinators responsible for:
  • Study Breaks
  • Monthly Social Events
  • First-year Outreach

• Oversee the DCC’s service and social justice program, to include service opportunities, educational programming, and advocacy
  • Attend at least two service programs a month
  • Invite students to participate in DCC service opportunities
  • Recruit, train, and manage service coordinators
• Communicate with and create partnership opportunities for other organizations on Duke’s campus involved in service and social justice 

TWO POSITIONS AVAILABLE

• Work with DCC staff to plan and execute the Ablaze Retreat (Spring), the Ignite Beach Retreat (Fall), and Duc in Altum (Fall)
  • Help determine/create content, organize small group discussion leaders, and invite students
  • Invite students to give short testimonies/reflections
  • Manage upperclassmen, small group leaders
  • Organize a team of students to help recruit and invite first-year students to attend retreats
• Brainstorm and imagine what other types of retreats and/or pilgrimages might be most desired by/beneficial for students. 

• Create a welcoming environment at the DCC where students feel seen, known, and able to connect to parts of the ministry about which they are passionate.
• Recruit and manage a team of student coordinators that form a hospitality team, responsible for:
  • Handing out worship aids before all DCC Sunday Masses
  • Being present at Sunday Coffee & Donuts to greet students, especially those who may not know anyone else
  • Being present at DCC social events/programming, in coordination with other SD team members and particularly the Socials team, to ensure everyone is welcomed and involved

• The President of the SOFC chartered organization is elected at an open election held annually (this year: November 9, 2025)
• Serves for the calendar year term and may run for re-election after his/her term has ended.
• Maintains organization in good standing with Duke University via Student Affairs and/or other university entities.
• Serves as the President of the Catholic student body and is the point person between the DCC staff and the Catholic student body.
  • Works with these students to help them build community amongst Catholic students in their program/school.
• Meets regularly with a member of DCC pastoral staff in preparation for SD Meetings; is present at and leads all SD Meetings.
• Is a member in good standing, defined as: an undergraduate student who regularly attends Masses offered through the DCC.
• Encourages/promotes attendance at DCC events, programming, and Bible studies
• Fosters 1-1 relationships with students
• Serves as public face of the DCC for the Catholic community and the University.

NOTE: The DCC is combining the responsibilities of the Vice President and Treasurer.

• The Vice President of the SOFC chartered organization is elected at an open election held annually (in November or December). 
• The elections are open to any member of the Duke Catholic Center in good standing and are publicized in the weekly email for two weeks before the election scheduled for Sunday, November 9, 2025. 
• Serves for the calendar year term and may run for re-election after his/her term has ended. 
• Maintains organization in good standing with Duke University via Student Affairs and/or other university entities.
• Meets regularly with a member of DCC pastoral staff in preparation for SD Meetings.
• Is present at and takes notes during all SD Meetings, then shares all pertinent notes with SD team as a whole.
• Is a member in good standing, defined as: an undergraduate student who regularly attends Masses offered through the DCC. 
• Supports the Student Directors in their initiatives 
  • Checking in regularly with each ministry role
  • Support event planning and student recruitment done by Student Directors
• Responsible for the allocation of student funds originating from SOFC, represents the Catholic Center in all interactions with SOFC, and communicates with the rest of Student Director leadership.
  • While these funding requests are not the most time-consuming part of the VP/Treasurer’s position, they are one of the most critical in ensuring the consistency and success of DCC programming. Timely submission of these funding requests and consistent communication with staff and the SD team regarding the status of funding requests will be one of the highest priorities of this role.

• Serves for the calendar year term and may run for re-election after his/her term has ended.
• Maintains organization in good standing with Duke University via Student Affairs and/or other university entities.
• Serves as liaison between the DCCGS and the Graduate and Professional Student Government.
• Meets regularly with a member of the DCC pastoral staff to coordinate programming, events, and funding requests for graduate students.
• Coordinates with Catholic graduate student groups at various Graduate Schools at Duke
  • Collaborates with these student groups to foster a greater graduate Catholic community on campus
• Is a member in good standing, defined as: a student who regularly attends Masses offered through the DCC

• Serves for the calendar year term and may run for re-election after his/her term has ended.
• Maintains organization in good standing with Duke University via Student Affairs and/or other university entities.
• Works closely with GPSG and the finance department on event approval and purchases.
  • Collaborate with other GSD’s and submit finalized semester event plans for Retreats, Prayer Experiences, Socials, and Outreach to the GPSG at the beginning of the semester - this is the budget request.
• Maintain close communication with Ruth Anne Kennedy (the DCC business manager) and DCC staff on event proposals.
• Tracks funding receipts and real-time account balances.
• Is a member in good standing, defined as: a student who regularly attends Masses offered through the DCC

TWO POSITIONS AVAILABLE

• Attend Mass weekly to oversee liturgical ministers and assist liturgical work studies with set-up as necessary
• Arrive 30 minutes before Mass to ensure that all Sunday Masses are properly staffed
• Stay to ensure everything is taken down after Mass (usually takes about 30 minutes after Mass)
• Recruit, coach, and supervise liturgical volunteers (EMs, lectors, altar servers, sacristans, hospitality ministers)
• Assist with special liturgies (holy days of obligation, Holy Week liturgies, etc.)
• Assist with setup and takedown for daily Masses and Wednesday Holy Hours.

• Oversee the DCC’s graduate service and social justice program, to include service opportunities, educational programming, and advocacy
  • Attend at least two service programs a month
  • Invite graduate students to participate in DCC service opportunities
  • Recruit, train, and manage graduate service coordinators as necessary
• Communicate with and create partnership opportunities for other organizations on Duke’s campus involved in service and social justice 

• Promote a welcoming and fun community among graduate students involved in the Duke Catholic Center by creating social opportunities for the graduate ministry as a whole
  • Plan and execute at least two social events per semester for the graduate student population
  • Facilitate the planning of men’s and women’s social events as necessary/desired by graduate students

• Create programming around the spiritual needs of Catholic graduate and professional students. 
• Plan and help execute one graduate retreat per year in collaboration with the campus minister and other graduate students
• Recruit/manage graduate students interested in assisting with undergraduate retreats as part of a Servant Leadership Team