Youths fast and pray to fight world hunger

Hundreds of teenagers in the Albany Diocese will be hungry this weekend, but you won't find them going out for pizza or a burger.

Several parishes are beginning Lent with 24- to 30-hour fasts for youth. The fasts will combine prayer, service and educational experiences as they raise money to help those suffering from hunger:

* At St. Pius X parish in Loudonville, youth will participate in Catholic Relief Services' 24-Hour Food Fast program. "I hope it will make them more aware of the presence of God in self and in others," said Sharon Randall, coordinator of youth ministry. "And it will help them reach out."

The youth will begin the fast on their own at noon on Feb. 27 and then check in at the parish at 5 p.m. where they will keep the fast until noon on Saturday. During that time, they will participate in a variety of activities. "We will explore the causes of hunger and poverty," Miss Randall said, "and look at our own life style."

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) provides information on U.S. teen spending to those participating in the fast. For example, for the $3 a teen may spend to rent a video, a person in Madras, India, can buy 100 coconuts to sell each day in the local market. For the $5 it costs to eat at a fast food restaurant, a Rwandan family of five could buy enough corn meal, oil and salt to feed them for three days.

The youth from St. Pius will volunteer at local soup kitchens on Saturday so they can experience what it is like to work when they're hungry, as do many of the world's hungry population.

Money raised through pledges at St. Pius will go to CRS both locally and internationally.

* Youth from St. Madeleine Sophie in Guilderland and St. Gabriel's in Rotterdam will participate in the World Vision 30-hour famine during the same weekend. It is the fifth year the youth of St. Madeleine Sophie have participated and the third year the cluster has done this project together.

The youth look forward to the experience. "It's really important that we do this event," said Kevin Elwood, an 18-year-old from St. Madeleine Sophie's who has participated in the program each year since it began. "There are lives saved."

Participants get sponsors as they go without food for 30 hours to identify with those who are hungry. Money raised goes to World Vision, a Christian relief organization. Last year the cluster raised $3,000; their goal this year is $3,500 said Lorraine DeCuyper, pastoral associate for liturgy and sacramental life.

She has been impressed by the youth participating in the famine. "They love it," she said. "They learn about self and each other. It's a retreat experience."

The program includes Scripture study, a liturgical scavenger hunt where participants must find and identify different items used during liturgy, and a trust walk. This year, the youth will also build a seven-foot-high cross bearing the images of hurting people around the world as a reminder that those who are suffering in the world are the suffering Christ among us, Mrs. DeCuyper said.

During the 30-hour period, participants can have only juice and water. "They don't complain," Mrs. DeCuyper said. "They have mutual support and are a very cooperative group."

The famine experience is important she said. "It opens them up to a bigger part of themselves," Mrs. DeCuyper explained. "They experience something spiritual and it puts them in touch with something larger."

Mr. Elwood agreed saying, "It increased my faith. I've gotten closer to the Lord because of this."

* Jessica Michaels, a 15-year-old from Corpus Christi parish in Ushers, is hoping to have a faith-enriching experience as she participates in the CRS fast at her parish this weekend. "Sometimes, it's a real struggle to understand that God would allow hunger," she said. "For some people, it's like, 'Well, I was born and now I'm going to be hungry the rest of my life.' I hope this gives me answers."

Besides providing her with answers, the fast will also be an opportunity to make a difference. "It's something I can do," she said. "I'm very active in service projects. It's another opportunity to help people."

The fast will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, said Erin Cencula, youth minister at Corpus Christi. Participants will break their fast at the 5 p.m. liturgy, followed by a potluck supper.

During the 24-hours, the youth will learn about world hunger and land mines. "The youth chose this issue," the youth minister said. "They'll write letters to Congress."

They will also be keeping a night-long vigil for the 34,000 children who die each day from hunger world wide.

"We hope they have a heightened awareness of their own spending," Ms. Cencula said, "and an increased awareness of what others are faced with."

The participants will also paint the parish kitchen during their fast to see what it's like to work while they are hungry. "Kids who are hungry aren't sitting around doing nothing; they're working in the fields," Miss Michaels said.

She is confident that she will make it through the fast. "People all around the world do it and it's not their choice," she explained. "It's my choice so that makes it easier."

(For more information on the Catholic Relief Services 24-hour fast, call 800-222-0025. For information on the World Vision 30-hour famine, call 800-7-FAMINE.)

(02-26-98) [[In-content Ad]]