www.theleaven.com | Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas | Vol. 33, No. 2 July 15, 2011
Helping hands
Angels with dirty work gloves: Teens mobilize for mission where prayer meets action
St. James Academy sophomore Andrew Tujague (left) puts some muscle into the job as he takes down a tree limb near an Emporia home as part of a new teen service program, Prayer and Action. At right, Shaleigh Yearsley, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee, applies a fresh coat of white paint to the same home, which belongs to Marcia Canaday. Although Canaday decided against applying for assistance because she believed there were others who needed the help more, her 11-year-old daughter Ruth sent in the application anyway, and the house was chosen for repairs.
E
MPORIA — It begins with one volunteer, with one line of song. “Just a small town girl,” she sings while chipping away on top of a ladder at the faded paint of a house. And seconds later, over 12 campers helping out at the house along with their youth leaders give full voice to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” “I’ve been serenaded for two days,” said Nicole Smith, the owner of the house the volunteers are renovating. “These kids are pretty amazing. They came, and they’ve just jumped right in. It’s pretty cute to hear them out here singing and trying to figure out a song
Story by Katie Hyde Photos by Doug Hesse that everyone knows.” This is a typical moment of Prayer and Action, the archdiocesan weeklong mission trip experience in Emporia, unifying prayer with works of charity. The program started out in the Diocese of Salina. However, so many archdiocesan teens were attending camp there that Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann decided to try a pilot program here, spearheaded by seminarians, based on the Salina program. The archdiocese currently offers three weeklong camps in Emporia,
where youth groups combine hours each day renovating homes around the area with prayer and spiritual reflection. “We want to show these kids the fullness of life in the love of God,” said Dan Morris, a seminarian for the archdiocese at Mundelein Seminary in Chicago, who has coordinated much of the camp. “We are drawing deeper into union with God and drawing deeper into union with love of neighbor,” he said. “We combine the sacramental life of the church with the mission life of the church and show [the campers] how that is inseparable, how that is necessary to live in the fullness of the love of God.” During the June 26-July 1 camp,
Turn to “Teen” on page 15
By the numbers - 3 weeklong camps - approximately 50 campers perweek - 30 homes they hope to assist over the summer - almost 6 hours of yardwork and home assistance daily - 4 seminarians - 4 lay women - $100 per person for a week of camp - 40 spots open for the July 17-22 camp. (Campers must travel in groups with an adult chaperone) For information, send an e-mail to: prayerandactionkc@gmail.com.
The Good Earth
Archbishop Naumann’s tour of Catholic Charities last week included a visit to New Roots for Refugees, a refugee-based farming program. Check out a video of this visit at: www. theleaven.com
Changed for good After 135 years, 255 Sisters and one changed community, the Benedictine Sisters leave Seneca.
3
8-9
Team Players
Two Topeka athletes will travel to the Boccia World Cup in Belfast, Northern Ireland, next month in the hopes of qualifying there for the 2012 Paralympics in London.
4