On July 9-13 the Catholic Youth Ministry Office sponsored a weeklong mission experience for high school teens.
It was designed to teach the youth about Catholic social teaching, how the Church in Arkansas responds to this, and help them recognize their call to serve.
The Catholic Charities Catholic Youth Ministry Summer Institute called "Investigating God’s Word in Life" was held at St. John Center in Little Rock. Twenty-five teens from nine parishes in Arkansas participated. These included Christ the King, St. Edward, St. Theresa and the Cathedral of St. Andrew, all in Little Rock; St. Edward, Texarkana; St. Joseph, Conway; St. John, Russellville; St. Raphael, Springdale; and St. Jude, Jacksonville.
The first-time event was similar to a mission trip in that teens spent time each day doing service, but they also spent an equal amount of time in a classroom in Fitzgerald Hall.
Diocesan youth director Liz Tingquist said, "This was a more unique experience for the kids because it had a real educational component to it, and they were able to look at social justice in terms of how Catholic Charities ministers to the world."
A prayer service for peace and justice began the event on July 9. Sister Mary Lou Stubbs, DC, then presented an overview of the ministries of Catholic Charities of Arkansas, which is the organization that coordinates social services of the Diocese of Little Rock. Its ministries include Catholic Adoption Services; Catholic Campaign for Human Development; Catholic Charities Immigration Services with offices in Little Rock and Springdale; Catholic Relief Services; Disaster Response Services; Emergency Assistance Services; Hurricane Recovery Office; Prison Ministry; Refugee Resettlement Office; Social Action Office; and Westside Free Medical Clinic.
From July 10-13, representatives from these ministries led morning presentations. They told the teens about their work and the realities of the people they serve. The diocese’s Stewardship and Development Office also presented a talk on stewardship. In addition, Arkansas Right to Life director Rose Mimms, a member of St. Theresa Church in Little Rock, talked about respecting life and described the work of ARTL, which sponsors the Arkansas March for Life each year.
Marsha Boss, a member of Christ the King Church, talked about the impact of prayer outside abortion clinics, and Project Rachel, a healing ministry for post-abortive women.
A quote from Blessed Mother Teresa set the tone for the week: "We cannot all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love."
Taking that to heart, each afternoon the teens did service at four nonprofits in Little Rock. These included Helping Hand of Greater Little Rock, a food pantry and thrift shop; Our House, a homeless shelter and job training center; St. Francis House, a social service agency that provides for basic needs, housing and healthcare; and Universidad de Promesa, a year-round after-school and summer program for Hispanic youth ages 3 to 18 that offers tutoring and English as a Second Language classes for adults.
Tingquist said the teens were split up into four groups and each group went to a different work site each day. They worked at the sites July 10-12.
At Universidad de Promesa, located at Promiseland Church, Tingquist said teens tutored children in reading, writing and math.
At Helping Hand, they bagged groceries and organized clothing in the thrift shop. They did similar work at St. Francis House, but also assisted clients. At Our House, teens mowed grass, weeded and dug flower beds. They also restocked shelves in the kitchen and pantry.
Sister Mary Lou said she was inspired by the teens enthusiasm and openness. "They go deeper than the surface to ask questions about why people are in this kind of situation, and their response is compassionate, not judgmental."
Summer institute participant Ryan Hendricks, a junior from St. Jude Church in Jacksonville, said, "Helping people really gives you a sense of pride, a sense of dignity about yourself." He said he also learned a lot from the experience. "We have abortion clinics here in Arkansas, I did not know that."
The immigration talk coupled with tutoring kids at Universidad de Promesa changed his perspective on immigrants, he said. "I always thought people come in illegally; that’s just wrong; they’re just doing it for them," he said. "I didn’t know that half the people who come in, come for their families." When someone says immigrants are "stealing our jobs," he said he would explain, "They come to get jobs, yes, but for their families to provide for them."
John Brown, a 10th grader from St. Edward Church in Texarkana, said what stood out for him is the reaction of people when they receive an act of kindness. He also learned a lot, particularly about the adoption, prison ministry and immigration ministries of the diocese. "I didn’t know that Catholic Charities was as vast and helpful as they are."
Colleen Kissel, a junior from Christ the King Church in Little Rock said, "It’s really amazing just learning about what we can do in the community."
During the closing Mass July 13 the teens were commissioned to take what they experienced and go back to their homes and put what they learned into action.
"I hope they take a new sense of confidence that they can truly live the Gospel in today’s world," Sister Mary Lou said. "You can do this, and it can be a part of your life."
Kissel, who attends Mount St. Mary Academy, said she wants to start a club at her school to educate students about respecting life, "because it’s all about respecting life. All the things all week have been about respecting life."
