Agnus Dei: Villa Julie College Catholics

Meetings | Mission Statement | Leadership | Calendar | Constitution

Affiliated with Baltimore Catholic - Young Adult & College Catholics in MD, DC & No VA

Agnus Dei Constitution

Name | Membership | Purpose | Leadership | Meetings | Elections
Resignation and Impeachment Procedures | Amendments | Oath of Office

Article I: Name

The name of the Catholic club at Villa Julie College will be “Agnus Dei,” which is Latin for “Lamb of God.”

Article II: Membership

All full-time and part-time students, as well as faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Villa Julie College will be welcome to become members of the club.

Article III: Purpose

The purpose of this organization is for the Catholic members to grow deeper in their Catholic Christian faith. We hope to help non-Catholic Christians grow deeper in their own Christian faith; in addition, we hope to help them better understand the Catholic Church and eliminate incorrect stereotypes they may hold. This organization will put a strong focus on prayer and liturgy as well as Bible study, Church history, worship and community service. 

Article IV: Club Leadership

A.     Requirements to Hold Office

1.      Must be a current Villa Julie student (the exception to this rule is the Alumni Director, who must be a Villa Julie Alumnus).

2.      Must be a practicing Catholic (meaning, regular weekly attendance at Mass and working knowledge of the Catholic faith and the Bible).

3.      Must follow and teach all Catholic doctrine as described in the latest edition of the Official Catechism of the Catholic Church, official Church documents and at the direction of the Archdiocese of Baltimore (being any official in the Archdiocese, notably the director of Campus Ministries and the priests or religious that help facilitate this club).

4.      All officers must take the oath of office as included as an addendum to the constitution. The oath of office is the actual text of “Profession of Faith and The Oath of Fidelity on Assuming an Office to be Exercised in the Name of the Church” as issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The most recent version of this profession will be used.

5.      Officers can hold at most three positions.

a.       The same individual cannot hold in tandem the offices of president, vice president or treasurer.

b.      Only if there are not enough interested individuals may a person hold a third office, never four offices.

c.       In the event that an office cannot be filled, its duties will be split among all the officers and the president or vice president will head the office.

B.     Offices

1.      President

a.       Presides over all meetings.

b.      Works with SGA, OCM and other clubs on campus.

c.       Oversees all club activities.

d.      Communicates with Catholic clubs at other schools.

e.       Communicates with the Archdiocese of Baltimore, churches and religious.

f.        Attends SGA, SFA, SLPB and OCM meetings if possible.

g.       Makes sure the club complies with all the requirements from the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

2.      Vice President

a.       Presides over meetings in absence of president.

b.      Assists president when needed.

c.       Communicates with Catholic clubs at other schools.

d.      Communicates with churches and religious.

e.       Attends SGA, SFA, SLPB and OCM meetings if possible.

f.        Makes sure the club complies with all the requirements from the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

3.      Treasurer

a.       Keeps accurate financial records for the club.

b.      Submits all receipts to Campus Life.

c.       In charge of fundraisers.

d.      Attends SGA, SFA, SLPB and OCM meetings if possible.

4.      Secretary

a.       Records minutes of all meetings and distributes them to club officers and Campus Life office.

b.      Maintains attendance at meetings and events.

c.       Fills out ‘Activity Assessment Forms’ and turns them in to the Campus Life Office at the end of each month.

d.      Works with public relations director when needed to help promote the club.

e.       Keeps a historical record of the club for future classes.

5.      Public Relations

a.       Maintains bulletin board.

b.      Maintains website.

c.       Sends weekly email to members informing them of club activities.

d.      Responsible for posting and taking down fliers as needed.

e.       Responsible for promoting activities to Catholic clubs at other area colleges.

f.        Responsible for promoting activities to Young Adult groups at area churches.

6.      Community Service

a.       Responsible for setting and heading up a community service committee if needed.

b.      Responsible for setting up at least one community service activity per semester.

c.       Will help public relations director promote community service activities.

7.      Club Representative

a.       Must attend all SGA and SLPB meetings, in the event that this individual cannot attend, he/she must make sure that another club officer will be attending.

b.      Responsible for attending SFA and OCM meetings in absence of the president and vice president.

c.       Must work closely with the public relations director and the secretary to ensure knowledge of club activities.

d.      Responsible for communicating with other campus clubs, with particular focus on the other campus Christian clubs.

8.      Social Chair

a.       Must set up at least one social activity per semester.

b.      Must work closely with the social chairs of the other campus Christian clubs to join together in ecumenical fellowship.

c.       Must help spiritual director and community service director in planning events outside of meetings.

d.      Will help public relations director promote social activities.

9.  Alumni Director

a.       Keeps alumni informed of club meetings and events though email.

b.      Must set up at least one event for alumni per year.

c.       Will work with the Villa Julie Alumni Office to keep them informed of activities for the alumni and to place the activities in Ventures.

Article V: Meetings

A.     The club will meet at least once a week at the time voted on by members during the previous semester; meetings can be canceled at the direction of the president.

B.     Meetings will always open in prayer. This can include worship music, spontaneous prayer or liturgical prayer.

C.     After prayer, there will be time for any announcements that need to be made.

D.     After announcements, there will be a short teaching of Church history. This can be simply teaching about a specific saint, Church doctrine or historical fact about the Church.

E.      Activity –Usually it will involve either a bible study, a presentation from a member (usually president, vice president or spiritual director), a guest speaker or more prayer. This activity will be changed weekly at the direction of the president.

Article VI: Elections

A.     We request that all officers maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. If their GPA should fall below a 2.0, we request they resign their position or that they take a leave of absence until they are able to bring up their GPA. However, this will not be enforced, as grades are confidential information.

B.     Members interested in becoming an officer must have attended a combination of at least five meetings or events sponsored by the club in the previous school year.

C.     Those interested in running for office must submit a request to the president of the club by the Friday of midterms week (as noted in the official school calendar) of the spring semester.

D.     The president or vice president will meet with each interested person individually on or around April 1^st, but no later than the third meeting in April to discuss the position.

E.      Elections will take place at the last meeting in April by a secret ballot.

F.      The president, vice president and secretary will each count the ballots. The President will then notify the winners, and direct the public relations director to notify the entire club.

G.     The elect officers will work with the current officers in May and take over their new position for the last meeting of the school year.

Article VII: Resignation and Impeachment

A.     Officers wishing to resign from their positions must submit a written request to all club officers at least two weeks in advance of their planned resignation.

B.     Impeachment Procedure

1.      A member wishing to impeach an officer must first speak privately to the president.

a.       If it is the president the member wishes to impeach, he/she must first speak privately with the vice president.

b.      If the president wishes to impeach an officer, he/she must first speak privately with the vice president.

c.       If the president wishes to impeach the vice president, or vice versa, he/she must first speak to the treasurer and secretary.

d.      In any other circumstances where talking to the president or vice president first is not possible, the person should speak privately to the faculty advisor.

2.      After speaking to the president or vice president and at his/her direction that member will then submit a request and explanation for an impeachment to all the club officers, including the one he/she wishes to impeach.

3.      The officers will then privately discuss the reasons, first alone, then with the accused person, and then with both the accuser and accused.

4.      All officers, including the accused, will vote whether to impeach or keep the accused in office.  A 2/3 majority is required to impeach the officer. In the event that a majority of the officers decide to impeach, but a 2/3 majority is lacking, it will go to the membership.

a.       The president and secretary will count all votes

b.      In the event that one of them is the accused, then the vice president will count in place of the accused.

5.      A 2/3 majority of the membership is required to impeach the officer.

a.       The president and secretary will count all votes

b.      In the event that one of them is the accused, then the vice president will count in place of the accused.

C.     Special Elections

If an officer resigns, is impeached or leaves the school, he/she must be replaced through a special election.

1.      The president will either temporarily take over the job or appoint someone to take the position.

2.      The president will direct the public relations director to send an email to all members informing them of the new opening and ask all those interested in taking the position to contact the president.

3.      The president will then meet with those individuals interested in the position within two weeks.

4.      At the second week after the change of officers, a special election will take place by secret ballot. The president, vice president and secretary will count the votes (in the event that one of these officers is not available, the public relations director will count in his/her place). The newly elected officer will take over immediately.

5.      In the event that no one is interested in the position, the president can either keep the temporary person in the position or distribute the work among the officers.

Article VIII: Amendments to the Constitution

A.     A member wishing to amend the constitution must first speak privately to the president.

B.     After speaking to the president and at his/her direction, that member will then submit a request and explanation to all the club officers.

C.     The officers will then privately discuss the reasons for the change (if it is an officer requesting the change he will not be present), and then discuss it with the person requesting the change.

D.     All officers will vote whether to amend the constitution. A 2/3 majority is required to make an amendment, in the event that a majority of the officers decide to amend, but a 2/3 majority is lacking, it will go to the membership. The president and secretary will count all votes.

E.      A 2/3-majority vote of the membership is required to amend the constitution; this vote will take place at the next scheduled meeting. The president and secretary will count all votes.

Profession of Faith and The Oath of Fidelity on Assuming an Office to be exercised in the Name of the Church

Issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 1989

Profession of Faith

I, N., with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the symbol of faith: namely, I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in the one holy Catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith I believe as well everything contained in God's word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the Church--whether in solemn judgment or in the ordinary and universal magisterium--as divinely revealed and called for faith.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by that same Church definitively with regard to teaching concerning faith or morals.

What is more, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.

Oath of Fidelity on Assuming an Office to be exercised in the Name of the Church

I, N., on assuming the office __________ promise that I shall always preserve communion with the Catholic Church whether in the words I speak or in the way I act.

With great care and fidelity I shall carry out the responsibilities by which I am bound in relation both to the universal church and to the particular church in which I am called to exercise my service according to the requirements of the law.

In carrying out my charge, which is committed to me in the name of the Church, I shall preserve the deposit of faith in its entirety, hand it on faithfully and make it shine forth. As a result, whatsoever teachings are contrary I shall shun.

I shall foster the common discipline of the whole Church and urge the observance of all ecclesiastical laws, especially those which are contained in the Code of Canon Law.

With Christian obedience I shall associate myself with what is expressed by the holy shepherds as authentic doctors and teachers of the faith or established by them as rulers of the Church. And with diocesan bishops I shall gladly devote my energy so that apostolic activity, to be exercised by the mandate and in the name of the Church, is--with provision made for the character and goal of my institute-- carried out in the communion of the Church.

May God help me in this way and the holy Gospels of God which I touch with my hands.

Profession of Faith and The Oath of Fidelity on Assuming an Office to be exercised in the Name of the Church Taken from:
L'Osservatore Romano
Weekly Edition in English
25 November 1989