 For
six months Young Church Ministry has been preparing for “Service
Plunge 2003.” This Christian outreach process was initially
centered on reaching out to the elderly in our community. The
plan was to work with the Milton Council on Aging and to mow
lawns for older folks locally. It was decided that the young
people would gather each day, pack a peanut & jelly sandwich
and return for an evening meal together. We expected about
fifteen to twenty young people. By the beginning of June forty-two
young people had committed to the program. It became obvious
that the program would have to be expanded to accommodate more
young people. Additional work sites were added on. Many adults
(mostly parents) and young adults volunteered to accompany
these young people to their work sites. Without them, this
process would not have been possible. A part of the plan was
to dedicate
the first day of this process to community building since more
than one high school grade was involved so that the young people
would get to know each other a little better working together.
Each day our program began with prayer and the young people
were invited to live the Gospel of the day. At one of the prayer
services it was suggested that if the day got tough to lean
into the Gospels since they are the fabric of our lives. This
expression became key for some of the young people and adults
helping out. The first day at the conclusion of our opening
prayer service the young people had their hands blessed. Throughout
the week we discussed the “option for the poor,” justice
issues and how each person is made in the image of God and
entitled to basic needs of life. The young people were also
invited to journal each day. After supper in the evening, we
processed together what happened at their work sites. Many
of them volunteered stories of the day. They shared about folks
who were so grateful for their help, stories about places they
visited and what they saw, the people they encountered and
families who really did not have even have beds for themselves
or their children. It was very moving to hear what they processed.
It was these experiences that kept them going each day. They
never complained and continued to work each day. They did have
some down time and time for recreation. They played table tennis,
pool and sat around and talked to each other at the Youth Center.
June 23rd arrived and we were extremely lucky to be able to
use the Ropes Course in Braintree. The Norfolk County Sheriff’s
Department sponsored us. Forty-two young people and some adults
arrived very early in the morning. When the teens first got
out of the car and took a look at the ropes 35 feet in the
air…it was overwhelming. Brian Steins from the Norfolk
County Sheriff’s Department led them and he was wonderful
helping the group to build community and to challenge themselves.
Some of the exercises were very difficult but the young people
did very well. They really felt proud of their accomplishments
and there was lots to talk about on the first night.
On Tuesday, June 24th, some of the group went to the Council
on Aging to do a car wash. It was a hot day very humid and
they washed over 40 cars. The Council on Aging remarked how
wonderful they were with their Council members helping getting
their cars ready for the wash. Others went to Fr. Bill’s
Place to lay mulch and to the plant flowers. While there were
there, they were invited to a skit about a homeless person
and it was very moving. Still others did lawns. The lawn crew
encountered some minor problems with the lawnmower but they
kept at it and were very faithful to their task. A small group
went to the Elderly Housing in Milton to plant flowers and
wash windows. An older woman living there was happy that the
young people were washing windows. She remarked that she had
not seen clearly out of her window for quite some time and
was elated with their efforts.
On Wednesday, June 25th, the weather got hotter. We sent 37
young people and adults to the Greater Boston Food Bank. It
was not air conditioned and the group worked very hard. It
was an awesome experience. Each person packed 304 lbs. of food.
Because of their efforts each person made 235 meals possible.
Another group did lawns again and even cut down some bushes
in very humid weather. At the Council on Aging a small group
served lunch to the visually impaired.
On Thursday, June 26th, a group went to My Brother’s
Keeper and helped move furniture all day and bring it to families
who basically had very little furniture in their homes. Another
group went to Bethany, a nursing home in Framingham for retired
nuns, and visited them and served a snack. Another group went
to the
Office for Youth Ministry and helped with some office tasks
and even putting air conditioners in the windows. A small group
went to Fontbonne and helped with mulching and raking. Some
of the young people helped at St. Agatha’s Young Church
Ministry Office and the “I Am Special Room” cleaning
out closets and another group painted chairs too. Additionally,
a large group of young people served the Men’s Club breakfast
and met with guest speaker, Rep Walter Timilty. Later on in
the afternoon still another group of young people spent some
time with Council members in their computer course.
June 27th was the last day of our week. Early in the morning
we gathered together for a final prayer service and blessed
each other. We also did an affirmation exercise where the
teens spoke positive comments about their fellow workers.
It was fun.
After that, we finished up some of the lawns and went off to
the Council on Aging to do a cookout for the elderly. Everyone
of our group eventually arrived and we all ate together with
the Council members. We then came back to the Youth Center
for a Mass. Fr. Joe presided and Fr. Casey and Sr. Helen came
for support. Some of the parents who were able to be with us
also came.
After the Mass, we gave them a little remembrance for the week,
had some dessert and we all left.
St. Agatha Parish’s young people involved with the “Service
Plunge” really became Christ this week. The Spirit of
God supported them in all that they did. They were Jesus for
each other and for the many people that they encountered. They
are already making plans for next years adventure.
Go to the Photo Gallery to see lots of pictures of the week.
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