Christmas in October is a day of dedicated service during which students installs smoke detectors and paint homes.

Through participation in a variety of service projects, students are led to understand that talents are gifts to be developed, not for self-satisfaction or self gain, but rather, with the help of God, for the good of the human community. Students are encouraged to use their gifts in the service of others, out of a love for God.

The Emmet J. and Mary Martha Doerr Center for Social Justice Education and Research is an independently funded center within the School of Social Work that promotes long range solutions to social problems through education and research.

The Center's work draws on the social work profession's tradition of addressing structural issues at the root of many of the problems of human, community and international relations. By offering students opportunities to engage the issues at the systemic level, in both academic and practice environments, and by promoting academic research in social work and related disciplines, the Center advances knowledge, critical thinking and open dialogue about our understanding and implementation of social justice in today's world.

Each year, the Finucane Service Project welcomes incoming students to Rockhurst and introduces them to service – an important part of Rockhurst’s mission as a Catholic and Jesuit university.  The Finucane Service Project gives the campus an opportunity not only to experience service but also to celebrate the spirit of service.  Named in the memory of the Rev. William Finucane, S.J., Rockhurst initiated the Finucane Service Project to honor his commitment to introducing freshmen to both service and the neighborhood around campus. 

The parish provides health-related information and blood pressure screening.

St. Francis Xavier's parish participates in Heart of America's annual Crop Walk. CROP Hunger Walk is Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty in an annual event that combines fun and fundraising to generate donations for hungry people throughout the world. Walkers invite friends to sponsor them with a contribution of $5.00, $10.00, $20.00, or more.

The Obesity Prevention Center is committed to the scholarship of discovery reflected in our mission: To discover new knowledge through research that integrates social, behavioral, cultural, and physical factors critical to understanding problems, implementing programs, and developing policies designed to prevent obesity; To apply this knowledge to the practice of preventing obesity, through partnerships with community and academic collaborators.

The Office for Community & Social Research (OCSR) advances the research, teaching and service mission of the College of Education and Public Service (CEPS) through the development, management and support of faculty-community grants, contracts, and services. OCSR and College staff, the College leadership team, and faculty fellows meet regularly to vet opportunities and proposals and engage broader university and community partners.

The Office for Community & Social Research (OCSR) advances the research, teaching and service mission of the College of Education and Public Service (CEPS) through the development, management and support of faculty-community grants, contracts, and services. OCSR and College staff, the College leadership team, and faculty fellows meet regularly to vet opportunities and proposals and engage broader university and community partners.

Food, utilities, housing, medical, and transportation assistance are offered. In addition holiday food baskets, home delivery, and limited case management are available.

The club serves to honor the Catholic Christian tradition of respecting life and defending the helpless.  Focused on the abortion issue, we seek to educate ourselves and others to serve whenever applicable, and to make our interests known to state and national lawmakers.

The club meets to discuss and organize around Catholic teaching concerning life issues.

The Regis Club seeks to provide students an opportunity to perform community service, as well as fostering relationships between members of the Rockhurst community and between Rockhurst and the broader Kansas City community.  Our activities in recent years have included our monthly trips to the Shalom Catholic Worker House, our annual Toy Drive and Bowling Tournament, and projects at the CCVI center, the Recycling Center, and the Hope Center.

For over 12 years, the Rockhurst Community has assisted St. Francis Xavier Social Ministries
with the annual Return to Christmas project.These annual gifts provide families with food,
gifts, and rent, utilities, and medication assistance.

A crew of SFX parishioners volunteers together the 4th Tuesday of every month from 4:00 to 6:30  p.m to serve the homeless of Kansas City.

A group devoted to respect, TAP travels to local elementary schools to promote respect for self, parents, friends, and God in school, home, and social life.

The Center, named after the University's patron saint, promotes critical and committed analysis of the Catholic tradition. Its thought-provoking programs solicit discussion of all aspects of Catholicism, including literature, history, fine arts, philosophy, theology and the natural and social sciences.

The Thomas More Center encourages faculty and student research and study through a minor program in Catholic Studies for undergraduates and a research grant program for Rockhurst faculty. Additionally, the Center provides continuing education opportunities and outreach programs to the community-at-large.

Established in the spring of 2000, the Center has already sponsored a course whose lectures have been published by the Rockhurst University Press — Catholicism at the Millennium: The Church of Tradition in Transition .