These Summer Camps Make Lasting Impact Viatorians were busy this summer living out their charism of accompanying young people on their spiritual journey. From Arlington Heights to Bourbonnais, and from Kankakee and to Las Vegas, Viatorian schools and parishes organized summer camps that immersed teens in service. History shows that these experiences have long lasting consequences in building future faith leaders, as many past participants point to these camps as pivotal. Here’s a sampling:
This was the 17th annual Hearts of Hope service trip, which serves one of the poorest communities in Illinois. (Kids posed in front of barn)
One of the many projects during Camp MOSH was whitewashing this fence.
Camp MOSH (Maternity Outreach Service for Humanity) returned in July to Maternity BVM Parish in Bourbonnais, bringing young people and adults together from the parish to serve those in need, right in their own backyards. The parish-wide effort drew Viatorians who serve there to take part, including Fr. Jason Nesbit, CSV, Pastor, and Fr. Moses Mesh, CSV, Associate Pastor. From painting and cleaning to yardwork and light carpentry, more than 200 volunteers divided up into crews and spread out each day to different work sites. Each morning started with Mass, followed by a continental breakfast and preparing sack lunches, before heading out to an assigned site. In the evening, team members returned for a complete dinner and fellowship — from a live band, to karaoke, a dunk tank and motivational speakers. At one of the morning Masses, Fr. Nesbit described their work this way: “You are planting seeds of charity, friendship and goodness as you go out into the community.” www.viatorians.com
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Associates Ken and Michelle Barrie led their 17th Hearts of Hope this summer. The mission trip takes teens to Pembroke Township, one of the poorest areas in Illinois, located 30 miles from their homes. The trip took place from July 6 to 10 and as usual, it was one of the hottest weeks in the summer, but these young people were not deterred. Here are some of their accomplishments: building a horse barn, extending a hog pen, painting the side of a church, building a ramp for a senior citizen and repairing a pavilion they had built at an earlier camp. “We were truly blessed to work and serve with the people in the community of Pembroke,” Associate Michelle Barrie said. “We worked hard to accomplish many projects in our ‘COVID mission,’ but we received so much more than we gave.” Saint Viator High School’s Service & Song camp returned in June and combined incoming students with young leaders from the school. Started by Fr. Corey Brost, CSV, in 2013, the camp combines a track in liturgical music with a service track, which sends teams of young people out to transform the community. Some of their projects this year included packing lunches for the homeless served by Journeys The Road Home, helping senior neighbors with their yard work, helping to weed and harvest the Viatorian Community Garden — which grows vegetables for area food pantries — and sorting through donations for Viator House of Hospitality. Many professed and associate Viatorians participated. Fr. Brost celebrated the closing liturgy. “Our intention was to let students directly serve those most in need in the local
