Bishop Barry C. Knestout made the long, scenic drive to southwest Virginia to see the participants of this year’s Diocesan Work Camp put their faith into action. Bishop Knestout visited work sites, offered Mass, led Eucharistic adoration, heard confessions, and also joined in on some of the fun of Work Camp.
“Moments of closeness with Christ and one another provide the spiritual foundation for Work Camp,” said Bishop Knestout, “making it possible to bring hope to those in need.”
“I am grateful for the moments of prayer with all of the young people who gathered for Work Camp, including at the work sites and during adoration and Mass,” the bishop added.
Bishop Knestout visited various work sites in Abingdon, Bristol, and Damascus. At each site, he listened attentively as the teens and adults explained their project, talked about their residents’ circumstances, and displayed the work they had completed so far.
Olivia Magnini, a teen from Star of the Sea, Virginia Beach, and member of Crew 8, was surprised to see Bishop Knestout show up at her work site in Bristol on Tuesday, June 24. “I had the responsibility of showing him around, which was super cool. I’ve seen him at a lot of events, but it was cool to have a one-on-one conversation … he’s very nice,” she said.
Charlotte Land, a teen from St. Joseph’s Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel, Columbia, mustered up the courage to ask Bishop Knestout to take a photo with her when he visited her work site in Damascus on June 25. She said she expected him to be more serious, but found “he was just a normal person.”
“He knew a lot about the ramp and building [things], so that was cool,” Magnini said. Bishop Knestout has a degree in architecture and shared some of his expertise.
“Listen to him – he knows what he’s talking about!” quipped Bert Drummond, one of the lead contractors, at a site in Abingdon where the teens were struggling to construct a lean-to.
As Bishop Knestout made the rounds at the sites, he blessed the crews and their projects. He also met with the residents, thanking them for their hospitality and kindness in welcoming the Catholic community into their homes. Before leaving, Bishop Knestout kindly asked each resident if he could pray with them, asking God to bless their homes and to give them good health.
The bishop even retrieved holy water from his car and blessed the home of one Abingdon resident who is also a parishioner of St. Anne, Bristol.
“I can’t believe the bishop is on my back porch – wow!” Debra Rodham exclaimed. She said she had missed other opportunities to see him when he visited her parish, so she felt very special to receive a personal visit at her home.
“He’s very nice, and very easy to talk to,” Rodham said.
“I think it’s really awesome and surreal to have a successor of the Apostles here at our work site,” said Nash Euman, the chaperone for Crew 5 from St. Benedict, Richmond. “I hope it’s inspiring to the kids, too.”
Bishop Knestout said he is the one who is inspired. “The young people of our diocese showed such goodness as they endured the heat and discomfort of long days of hard work,” the bishop said after his visit.
“They brought such joy to the poor and elderly. There was a profound gratitude expressed by those we helped,” Bishop Knestout added. “The residents were grateful to be remembered and assisted through the kindness and generosity of our young people at Work Camp.”
See more photos from Bishop Knestout’s visit to Work Camp!
Read about the adults who serve alongside the teens at Work Camp.
Read about Work Camp projects which helped with hurricane recovery in Damascus.