Being involved, teens witness to their faith

Melinda Vigneau doesn't think of herself that way. "I just do it because I like to do it," she said of her role with St. Peter's Players, a group of youth from St. Peter's parish in Saratoga Springs who put on skits about tough issues facing today's teens.

A junior at Saratoga Springs Senior High School, Melinda has played a pregnant teen, a "princess" in a skit about stereotypes based on the movie "The Breakfast Club," and a young teen who's concerned about her older sister's drinking.

Impression

"A lot of my friends are involved in it," she explained, "and I like acting."

Like Melinda, some teens say they don't think much about whether they're having a huge impact on the people they serve. But for others, the dream is to make a difference.

Peggy Keogh is one such teen. The Guilderland High School sophomore leads the Free the Children group at her parish, St. Lucy's in Altamont. Attending a meeting last year where Free the Children founder Craig Kielburger spoke, she said, "I got hooked. He was so inspirational."

Making a difference

About 250 kits are being assembled -- and the group has collected $600 toward building a school in a Third World country and 800 signatures asking that the U.S. sign the U.N. petition on the rights of a child.

"It's such a big problem, and we all have to take care of it," said Peggy of the staggering effects of poverty on children.

Having researched the subject on the internet, she reels off frightening statistics: 35,000 children die every day due to poverty; one-fifth of the world's children are not in school.

Prophesying

"We hope to get something back, but there's a slim chance [the children who receive the kits] even speak English," she explained. "Craig keeps us going. We have heard back some good results: The Gap has reformed and has a code of conduct; Nike no longer employs children under 18."

Besides, she said: "There's so many children -- you just can't give up on them."

Impact locally

The Berlin Junior/Senior High School freshman and his peers have held a movie night for parish youth and a Renew mission, and are planning a retreat for the youth ministry core team.

"I want to see more people get involved and do for others," Danny stated. At meetings, he said, the team often prophesies in the form of debating: "We try to see what this [planned event] will do, what good will it do for people."

If he could make a difference, he said, he'd like "to show youth in our church it can be fun."

Place to be heard

Now a senior, the St. Helen's, Schenectady, parishioner told The Evangelist he has really "stepped up and started doing things" with the council. He serves on its executive board and helped plan a service day where teens from all over the Diocese met to volunteer with different organizations.

This year, Nate is chairing the DYC's communications committee, focused on setting up an internet site for the group. He is also on a committee to plan programs for youth in the Diocese.

"It's a great group of kids working together to make a difference," he said of the DYC. "It's a worthwhile cause."

Progress report

With the DYC, "membership's been a primary concern. They really made a lot of headway last year -- added a couple of deaneries and Catholic schools. We're working to get the web page up and running."

However, the teen is not resting on his laurels: "I'd like to see everyone [in all the deaneries of the Diocese] have representation on the council," he added. "I'd like to see a strong youth ministry program in every parish."

Taking part

In addition to planning the service day, Sara participated in it, pitching in at the Regional Food Bank. A senior at Catholic Central High School in Troy and parishioner of Our Lady of Victory there, she's hoping to organize another service day this year. She also helps to lead youth retreats around the Diocese.

Some prophets take flak for their work, and Sara is no exception. "A lot of people think I'm an overachiever, that I do it to get known," she noted. But the teen has an answer for her critics: "Usually, I'll invite them to do stuff with me. Once they do something, they change."

With each retreat she leads, she said, "if people really enjoy it, I see I'm making a difference. I see Church as more than going and sitting in Mass every Sunday. A lot of people miss out on that. That's it: The Church is a community."

(11-04-99) [[In-content Ad]]