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Region 10 teens help at Catholic Heart Workcamp

By Tom Voglewede
Special to The Catholic Virginian

Ten high school youth and four adults from Region 10 spent the week of June 22–28 serving the elderly and low-income neighborhoods of Lancaster, Pa. at Catholic Heart Workcamp.

Calling themselves S.W. Virginia Parishes, the group representing St. Anne’s in Bristol, Christ the King in Abingdon and St. John’s in Marion joined their resources to make the mission trip that has become an annual event for the region’s youth.

Two of the adults had been to the workcamp previously, but for most of the participants this was their first experience.

The group spent their first night sleeping on the floor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Winchester, before arriving in Lancaster the following day.

In Lancaster, they joined about 300 other Catholic adults and teens who had come from various parishes throughout the Northeast to stay the week at Lancaster Catholic High School and go out into the community each day to do service work.

Each participant served on a small work crew, typically consisting of one adult and six youths from parishes other than their own.

Work projects included painting houses, spreading mulch, making minor home repairs and helping out at day care and senior centers.

After work each day, the youth would return to the school for evening programs featuring skits, singing, witness talks and fun activities.

Catholic Heart Workcamp started 15 years ago in a single location and has week-long camps now in over 30 cities. There are 10,000 Catholic youths and adults from more than 400 parishes, including several from the Richmond Diocese, who are expected to participate in the various camps this summer. One of the camps was in Virginia Beach.

In prior years the Region 10 group has traveled to Nashville, TN; Charlotte, NC; Mobile, AL and Lexington, KY. The adult leaders have expressed the belief that this is one of the best ways they can teach their youth about their faith.

“It was not only a lot of fun but I found it to be a very spiritual experience,” a youth said.

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