Youth groups challenged
At St. Columbkill’s Church in Boyertown, students in grades 7 through 12 were immersed in the Holy Triduum during a fourday event which started Wednesday of Holy Week and ended with the Great Easter Vigil on Saturday. The students were from St. Columbkill and Most Blessed
During this event, the students were “dared to love!” The students were challenged to love Jesus, to love themselves and to love their neighbor more than they ever did before.
“The goal was to make the students missionaries,” explained Heather Shainline, St. Columbkill’s director of youth ministry. The students were commissioned to the service of our Lord for 40 continuous hours starting from Thursday, April 13 until Saturday, April 15. That included sleeping two nights at St. Columbkill’s church. The Holy Week Mission staff included Shainline, Megan Repko and Mary Cris Guerin. Over 40 students and 10 volunteers/chaperones Sacrament parishes. participated in the 40hour event.
Holy Thursday evening the group visited and prayed at five churches: St. Columbkill, St. Aloysius, St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Philip Neri and Most Blessed Sacrament.
They also visited Chestnut Knoll and interacted with the residents.
“During the mission, we collected and prayed for the intentions of our parish, we showed love our neighbors by delivering Easter cards to the elderly and infirmed, and we explored and discovered a deeper relationship with Jesus,” Shainline said.
The students also participated in an ecumenical service on Good Friday at Butter Valley Church in Bally.
Each of the students and chaperones walked away from the week with a different experience. “For me, the Mission was fun and a different way to experience the importance of Holy Week and be closer to Jesus during the Holy Triduum,” said Ana Belen Guerin, student. Her sister, Mary Cris, echoed this comment: “The Mission was a great experience that allowed us to be closer to our community, our friends and our Lord.”
“My favorite part was visiting the churches on Thursday night. I really liked the environment of each place we went,” said Nicolas Repko, student
“I had an amazing time. I will definitely go next year and urge new comers to come, too. I met a lot of new people and rekindled relationships with former peers,” said Hope Fryer, student.
“I was able to meet so many new friends on this mission and it really helped strengthen my faith in Christ. I loved visiting Chestnut Knoll Senior Living and seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces,” said Giovanna Paone, student.
“Working side-by-side with the other parents to care for and guide these amazing teens was absolutely priceless. No phones — just communion with one another and our loving God. The evening mass on Saturday was so very powerful — God’s word and perfect plan for our redemption from beginning to end. Laced throughout all of our spiritual journey was fellowship with one another,” said Pam Kriebel, chaperone.