Student Life
Faith
Believe. Seek. Serve.
Dowling Catholic High School is a community of faith where learning, leadership, and sportsmanship are Christ-centered. The mission at Dowling Catholic is to inspire a love of learning and a respect for fellow human beings in an environment that fosters excellence in academics and spiritual development. The culture at Dowling Catholic is one of caring and support which embraces diversity and students of all faiths.
Service Hours
The goal of Dowling Catholic High School’s Christian Service Hour program is to ensure that students are seeking to serve the community, the world at large, and to see Christ in all people. Christian service is defined as that which takes us beyond a narrow concern for ourselves and moves us to promote the common good and to uphold the human dignity of every person. We are looking to serve those that are poor, vulnerable, or marginalized in the world around us. To find out more about service hours and the graduation requirement, click here or visit the "Service Hours" page in OnCampus.
For Incoming Freshmen: If you are completing your service hours during the summer before you have access to Mobile Serve, please print off a Service Hour Verification Form and get it signed by the supervisor of your hours. When you start school in the fall, please enter the hours in our online service hour system, Mobile Serve, and submit a photo of this form as verification.
All current students should submit all hours in Mobile Serve and should include a supervisor name and email address to electronically verify hours (please do not use this form). Fall hours (submitted and supervisor-verified) are due on Dec. 1; spring hours are due May 1.
Students can earn a white Service Cord by going above and beyond the 80-hour service requirement for graduation. Students must have earned at least 210 Christian service hours during their time at Dowling Catholic and must apply for the award. More details will be sent out to seniors later in the fall semester.
For Incoming Freshmen: If you are completing your service hours during the summer before you have access to Mobile Serve, please print off a Service Hour Verification Form and get it signed by the supervisor of your hours. When you start school in the fall, please enter the hours in our online service hour system, Mobile Serve, and submit a photo of this form as verification.
All current students should submit all hours in Mobile Serve and should include a supervisor name and email address to electronically verify hours (please do not use this form). Fall hours (submitted and supervisor-verified) are due on Dec. 1; spring hours are due May 1.
Students can earn a white Service Cord by going above and beyond the 80-hour service requirement for graduation. Students must have earned at least 210 Christian service hours during their time at Dowling Catholic and must apply for the award. More details will be sent out to seniors later in the fall semester.
Below is a list of faith-based opportunities that we encourage students to participate in at Dowling Catholic. For more on service clubs and other opportunities, click here.
Retreats
List of 7 items.
-
Freshman Retreat
All freshmen attend a day-long retreat in the fall led by nationally renowned Catholic speakers, DCHS faculty and a group of DCHS seniors. The retreat focuses on helping students integrate their relationship with Jesus into every aspect of their high school lives. The retreat is called “Get Your Heart in the Game” and is part of our Freshman Month of Welcome. -
Metanoia
Metanoia (a Greek word meaning "change of heart") is a retreat for Dowling Catholic freshmen led by a team of seniors and held at St. Thomas More Center in Panora, IA. The retreat runs from Sunday noon until Monday afternoon. The retreat follows the thematic development of "Change Your Mind--Change Your Heart--Change Your Actions.” Students will listen to talks, participate in small group discussions and activities, engage in prayer/reflection activities, and celebrate Mass together. The experience is intended to give students a chance to get away from the hectic pace of life, reflect on their faith, get to know many new classmates, and grow in faith and friendship. Please contact Mrs. Sheaff with questions.
Metanoia 2025-2026 Registration FormMetanoia Dates:February 15-16, 2026April 12-13, 2026 -
Quest
Quest is a 24-hour retreat opportunity for sophomores. The retreat takes place at the St. Thomas More Center in Panora, IA, and runs from Sunday noon through Monday afternoon. The focus of this encounter with Jesus is on the question Jesus poses, “Who do you say that I am?” (Mt 16). Witness talks and discussions surround the questions, “Who am I” and “Do I let Jesus form who I am?”. The Quest team consists of Dowling Catholic seniors and faculty and includes personal reflection time and small group sharing. Please contact Mrs. Sheaff with questions.
Quest 2025-2026 Registration FormQuest Dates:January 25-26, 2026March 29-30, 2026 -
Kairos
Kairos is a four-day retreat available to juniors. Kairos, which means “the Lord’s time,” not only gives students an opportunity to explore their own hearts but also draws them closer to God and each other in an intensely powerful way. This retreat significantly impacts students and strengthens their ideals and values as Christian leaders. Kairos retreats are held at the Creighton Retreat Center located near Griswold, IA, and are led by a team of Dowling Catholic students and faculty. Please contact Mrs. Sheaff with questions.
Kairos 2025-2026 Registration FormKairos Dates:October 23-26, 2025December 4-7, 2025January 22-25, 2026February 26- March 1, 2026March 26- 29, 2026April 9-12, 2026April 30-May 3, 2026 -
Suscipe
April 10-12, 2025Suscipe is the Latin word for 'receive'. The term was popularized by St. Ignatius of Loyola and his Spiritual Exercises and is the name of one of his famous prayers, the Suscipe.Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and thy grace, for this is sufficient for me. - St. Ignatius of LoyolaThis three-day weekend retreat for high school seniors is an opportunity to step out of the hectic nature of their last semester and into a relaxing and prayerful experience, where they can say, "Take Lord, and receive..." and prepare to live their faith beyond their high school years.Registration for the retreat is $160. This covers the cost of lodging, retreat materials, meals, and snacks. If cost is a concern, financial assistance is available. Please reach out to Jessica Pancho, Director of Youth Ministry, at jpancho@dmdiocese.org or Christy Sheaff at CSheaff@dowlingcatholic.org. -
Senior Day of Reflection
Every spring the seniors experience a day of reflection during which they look back on their time at Dowling Catholic. They focus on the highs and lows, what they are to take with them and leave behind, those they need to thank and those with whom they need to make amends. The day includes brunch and the senior video. -
Additional Opportunities
Additional opportunities for students may become available, such as vocational discernment retreats or faith-based conferences, such as the SEEK conference. Questions about availability can be directed to Campus Ministry.
Spiritual Activities
List of 7 items.
-
Adoration
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is available in the St. Joseph chapel from 8 am to 2:30 pm most days when school is in session at DCHS. Students may stop in between classes and during lunch to say hello to Jesus! If parents or friends of Dowling Catholic would like to sign up for a regular hour of adoration, please email dchsadoration@gmail.com to sign up for a weekly shift. The prayers of those in adoration throughout every school day are a great source of grace for our students and staff! -
Daily Mass in St. Joseph Chapel
Monday - Friday 7:15 am, Primetime -
Morning Prayer
Monday - Friday 7:55 pm -
Reconciliation
Reconciliation is available most days during Prime Time and immediately after school in the Father Acrea Sacristy in the Narthex. Thank you to our DCHS priests and area retired priests for offering this sacrament for our students! -
Revive
A night of witness, praise, Eucharistic adoration, and confession held one Thursday a month at 6 pm. Speakers and additional details will be released by Campus Ministry in the daily announcements each month! -
Students For Life
An organization promoting the Catholic Church’s teaching on the consistent ethic of respecting all human life from conception to natural death. -
Ut Fidem
Ut Fidem, from a Latin phrase meaning “Keep the Faith,” strives to develop high school students into intentional disciples who will keep the faith for the rest of their lives, and especially through college. Ut Fidem does this by supporting students in forming deep, personal relationships with Christ through small group ministry and faith mentoring.
More about Ut Fidem
