Teens boost faith through service

Some teens in Menands who call themselves the Black Catholic Apostolate Youth Group are focused on community service projects.

Yemi Adewunmi, 17 and a senior at Niskayuna High School, said that the volunteer time she gives to the group matches what she hopes to study in college next year: international relations.

"I like being active in the community and working with people," she told The Evangelist. "I hope I can positively affect [someone's] day or life in some small way."

Through their group, the teens also get to know one another, learn about social justice, develop service skills for their future and maintain close contact with the Black Apostolate of the Albany Diocese.

Beginnings

According to the coordinators, Jonelle Chang, her sister Natasha and Flore Cadet, those are the reasons they formed the group in the first place.

Ms. Cadet said that, about two years ago, they noticed "some of the teens were not showing up at Masses. They seemed to be losing interest in our parish life."

Rev. Kofi Ntsiful-Amissah, who is head of the Black Apostolate as well as pastor of St. Joan of Arc parish in Menands and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Albany, "suggested we might want to form a youth group to get them interested in parish life again," Ms. Cadet explained.

Meeting needs

The three coordinators searched the community for organizations where the teens could volunteer.

They help at various community facilities, such as Child's Nursing Home and Ronald McDonald House, where the teens comfort those suffering from serious illnesses, visit with seniors, and prepare and serve meals.

Additionally, the teens gather each Sunday after the 11:30 a.m. Mass at St. Joan's to make sandwiches for the Homeless Action Committee in Albany.

Linkages

According to Natasha Chang, who schedules the activities, making sandwiches unites the teens in a common task and gives them the opportunity to socialize.

"The teens attend different schools," she said. "We think it's important for them to spend as much time with each other as they can, so they can get to know each other, bond, form friendships. For every two acts of community service, we try to provide one strictly social event."

"I joined the group because I thought it might be a fun thing to do -- get to know other kids from different schools that are right here in our parish, kids that we might not even know if we weren't part of this group," said Abim Adewunmi, 15.

Busy time

The teen group has raised money for medical research by walking in the annual Walk for Diabetes, spent 30 hours at a Famine Fundraiser to increase awareness of the poor and hungry, collected food to stock local food pantries, held a day-long retreat, volunteered at the YMCA, sponsored a month-long food drive and a spaghetti dinner fundraiser, and hosted a potluck Christmas party and purchased gifts for teen residents of Parson's Child and Family Center in Albany.

"We have something scheduled for them every weekend," noted Natasha Chang.

"Basically," added Jonelle Chang, "what we want is to make sure that they all stay connected with the faith community at the Black Catholic Apostolate. We also hope that these young people will someday become leaders themselves."

Said Ms. Cadet: "Already, we've seen them begin to build the foundations of community service and leadership. It's all about the joy of giving to others and maintaining a solid connection with one's community."

(The Black Catholic Apostolate Youth Group is looking for new members, 14-18, in the St. Joan of Arc and Sacred Heart parish communities in Menands and Albany. Call Jonelle Chang at 272-7290.)

(1/5/06) [[In-content Ad]]