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Like
many parish youth ministry programs in the archdiocese, St.
Francis de Sales in Lake Geneva and St. Benedict in Fontana have
sponsored summer work camp trips around the country for young
parish members. They’re an opportunity to build a sense of
Christian community among the youth and be of service to the poor
and elderly by making home repairs.
The
two Walworth County parishes decided to stay home this summer and
offer a work camp experience to youth in their own back yard.
“Our
parishes have made a commitment to alternating a long distance
mission trip with a more local mission trip on a yearly basis,”
said Michelle Mandry, youth minister at St. Francis de Sales
Parish. “Two years ago we served with Catholic Heart in Milwaukee.
... Last year we went to Alabama” for a work camp experience, she
added. The popular summer parish activity teaches teens “what
ministry is supposed to be, an incredible blessing for
themselves.”
Beginning June 27, 28 teen-agers, five college-age youth leaders
and eight adults set up camp at East Troy’s Camp Timber-lee, a
Christian camping center. Each day the group gathered for morning
prayer before piling into minivans and driving to five separate
work sites.
The
work sites were located in the towns of Delavan (Delmar
subdivision), Lyons and Genoa City, all within 30 minutes of East
Troy. According to Mandry, she and St. Benedict youth minister Ed
Konieczka had been planning the work camp since last September.
Adults from both parishes worked to locate residents in need and
to assess the work needed on their homes. Mandry said Doug Schuldt,
a youth minister at St. Francis de Sales, |
and
Michael Juranek of St. Benedict Parish visited the work sites to
see whether the work needed was suitable for the youth. Juranek’s
wife, Julie, is a senior citizen benefits specialist for Walworth
County and was able to help the parishes identify elderly
residents in need of home repairs.
Schuldt, a building contractor, said he has participated in four
mission trips. This year he served as a trouble shooter, traveling
from work site to work site each day, evaluating the projects and
answering questions and making sure everybody had the proper tools
they needed. “I also give them a cheerleading section,” he said.
In
addition to the daily work schedule, the young workers were
treated to special evening programs organized by young adult
leaders, parish young adults now in college who took part in work
camps while in high school. “One of the young adults is part of
the worship team at St. Paul’s (Newman Center) at UW-Madison,”
said Mandry. The worship team led the music at Masses on June 27
and July 1. In addition, several of the UW students were able to
assist in evening prayer services.
Another added ingredient to this summer’s work camp was a
videotaped presentation by Bishop Richard J. Sklba. The bishop
taped a daily meditation that focused on service to others. “He
spent quite some time talking with us and allowing us to tape his
reflections on themes and the focus of this week-long mission
experience,” said Mandry.
“This
has truly proven to be a wonderful way to include the gifts of
many of those in our area,” the youth minister added. “We believe
that the gifts are shared will bear fruit in the lives of those
who serve and who are served.”
By Sam Lucero |
CONCENTRATION
Matt Ziobro, 16, from St. Francis de Sales Parish
in Lake Geneva, helped fortify the dilapidated porch with the help
of other teens and their adult leader, Michael Juranek of St.
Benedict Parish in Fontana.
PRAYER AND LUNCH
Jenna Vanderstappen, 18, center, reads a spiritual
reflection during a lunch break with other teens at a work site in
Lyons June 29. Pictured from left are Colin Devlin, 17, Cora
Peters, 16, Laura Juranek, 18, and Eric Boldger, 15.
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