Catholics learn about needy through experience and talks

By PAT PASTERNAK- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

"If we are God's hands in this world, what are our obligations?"

That question was the theme of a parish-sponsored gathering of youth and adults committed to issues of social justice, held at St. Henry's Church in Averill Park last weekend.

A room of the church basement was transformed into a homeless community where participants entered into solidarity with the poor, homeless and other "forgotten citizens" who live on the fringes of society.

Living poor

Beginning a 24-hour fast in the early morning hours of St. Patrick's Day, approximately 20 Catholics spent two days engaged in a simulated poverty experience that allowed them to sense the hand-to-mouth existence of the homeless and poor. The program also afforded them time for in-depth reflection on the love Jesus expressed for outcasts, strangers and others.

Throughout the two days, the group ate sparse meals, such as rice and beans, soup and a sandwich, and plain bread and water. They also listened to local speakers and watched videos on such subjects as farm workers, child labor, the lives of prison families, capital punishment and homelessness.

On Saturday evening, they slept on cardboard slabs with thin blankets. On Sunday, they arose at dawn to be "turned out to face the world."

Experiential

"This program was designed to sensitize our youth and adults of the parish to the needs of the poor and homeless," said Cyndi Herman, coordinator of faith formation and youth ministry at St. Henry's. "We wanted to provide an experiential weekend of simulated poverty, homelessness and fasting, with the purpose of making parishioners aware of the suffering of the poor in our society."

Kyle Evancoe, a 15-year-old student at Averill Park High School who is part of the parish's youth ministry core team, said: "When I first heard of this weekend, it looked like an opportunity for me to do more than just fast. I looked at it as an excellent way to learn about the issues of the poor. I can use what I have learned to lobby for changes in the laws."

The group presented what they plan to do in the future to Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, who celebrated Mass on Sunday morning. The core group decided to:

* join an action group to change legislation, participate in the annual Crop Walk in May and the Freihofer Walk for the Hungry in June, volunteer their time and talent to the local food pantry, and write to government officials for appropriate legislation on hunger and its issues;

* participate in the Farm Worker Advocacy Day to be held on May 1 in Albany;

* send a youth delegation to the Mexico/U.S. border on Nov. 18 to participate in the labor/religion delegation for youth there; and

* distribute flyers throughout the parish and participate in a 40-hour fast for New York's working poor next week.

Young and old

According to Mrs. Herman, the core team wanted to include adults in the program because "the philosophy of a youth ministry team is to integrate the youth with all age groups in the parish to accomplish a community that works together for peace and justice."

A future goal for the religious education program is to establish a parish-wide social justice committee. It would coordinate adults and the youth ministry program.

"Our youth are very interested in social justice issues," she said. "This weekend proved that there are adults in our parish who have that same interest."

(03-22-01) [[In-content Ad]]