Young People Who Care, Inc. (YPWC) began as a youth group in 1972 under the leadership of Sr. Therese Dush, assisted by Barbara and Jim Flickinger and eighteen ninth grade youth. Over the span of four years it grew to include 200 youth and seventy-five adults from across the Diocese of Erie. This group founded a Mission in Frenchville, Pennsylvania in 1976 to serve those in need and to provide mission experiences for youth.

To Teach as Jesus Did, published in 1972 by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, was the source of the guiding principles for the group. The document states, “The educational mission of the Church is an integrated ministry embracing three interlocking dimensions: the message revealed by God (didache) which the Church proclaims; fellowship in the life of the Holy Spirit (koinonia); and service to the Christian community and the entire human community (diakonia).”

Renewing the Vision: a Framework of Catholic Youth Ministry, published in 1997 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops stated the same goals in a new way: to empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in the world today; to draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community; and to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

How does one incorporate prayer, community, simplicity, service, and education, into a day, a weekend, or a week program for youth?

Basic components of a youth ministry program are student and adult involvement, parish awareness and involvement, money, transportation, and clearances for adults working with the youth. Frequently programs fall apart because one of the above is weak or missing. It takes a community of people convinced of the vision, with a diversity of talents and a willingness to give, to make this happen. Notice the word ‘community’ is used, not ‘team’, for it is the witness of this group, this community, which will sustain the work.

It is the intention here to share how Young People Who Care, Inc. has done this in a one week program and leave it to your creativity to do something similar in the mini experience of a day or a weekend.

The 2007 Summer Program had the theme “Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord” and the educational component of Catholic social teachings. A day in the life of students begins with 6:30 AM wake up followed by breakfast, which a ‘home crew’ would have prepared.

Morning Prayer

Each day focused on one of four of the elements of Catholic social teaching: dignity of the human person, call to community, care for God’s creation, and an option for the poor. Friday’s focus of discipleship encouraged students to continue the good work that had begun at YPWC in their home parishes, schools, and communities.

After morning prayer, students and their adult leaders then received their job assignments for the day, prepared their lunches, and assembled the tools and supplies they would need for the day. Before being sent out to assist those in need, the students spent forty-five minutes in the blueberry patch picking blueberries. The blueberries are sold to help support the Mission and all of its ministries.

The Work Day

Work teams, having received orientation and education, leave for their jobsite by 8:30 a.m. They may be assigned to any one of the following: replacing a roof, painting, yard work, home renovation, house cleaning, visiting the homebound, assisting the handicapped, or a variety of other jobs. Work crews return to the main mission about 4:00 p.m. They enjoy a refreshing swim in the river with the beautiful mountain scenery as a back drop for fun and relaxation.

Each student group is assigned a day to prepare the meals for the whole group. Dinner is enjoyed at about 5:30 in the evening. Quiet hour begins at 6:30 p.m. with a focus that helps the student reflect upon their experiences of service and living in Christian community, after which the time is spent in quiet for the individual to rest, pray, journal, read, or write letters. One young lady expressed it this way, “I felt a deeper connection to God that I have never had. I feel like this week has literally opened my eyes and I am thankful for that.”

The remainder of the evening is spent in all kinds of recreation; volleyball, soccer, capture the flag, cards, games, campfires, and any kind of fun imaginable. It is a time when friendships are made and celebrated, when laughter and shouts are heard all over the mountainside, when memories are made of good times spent with good friends! (There are no cell phones, radios, video games, or television).

Night Prayer

Night prayer occurs at 9:30 p.m. This is the time that reminds everyone of the purpose of the mission experience, ‘to answer the call of the Gospel, to be people of service reaching out in love to those in need and to those within the community itself.’

Night prayer is often held by candle light or flashlight, or by the light of the campfire, sometimes at the youth center prayer space, outside at the cross on the hill, at Mary’s Grotto, or by the labyrinth. Student groups plan these night prayers and each week brings creative and prayerful experiences that deepen the faith of the participants and bring the day to a close.

Listening to the students on Friday night and reading their evaluations reassures all the members of the YPWC staff that God is never outdone in generosity to those who love him. Each summer roofs are repaired, porches are built, homes are repaired and/or painted, stories are told, songs are sung, blueberries are picked, and lives are touched and changed—all in the spirit of service, prayer, simplicity, and hospitality.

Student Evaluation

Students have shared the following about their experiences:

• “I learned that service brings a person closer to God unlike anything else…you understand what it means to be selfless.”
• “I was reminded of how grateful someone can be for a simple smile or someone to talk to. Changing the world may not be as difficult as it is made out to be with the right state of mind and a good spirit.”
• “It is important to work together to achieve a major goal. I learned this by working with groups of people from different states at the work sites.”

YPWC has been providing one week mission experiences for youth for the past thirty years. Students and their adult advisors from more than fifteen states have experienced this effective program. Some schools have returned for as many as twenty-eight years. This one week experience is offered throughout the months of June, July, and August. There is also a college program which is offered during term breaks.

YPWC has been involved in youth ministry training for the past thirty-one years and provides internship opportunities for youth ministry. YPWC, Inc. recruits men and women volunteers to assist in meeting the needs of the poor throughout the year and to be leaders in youth ministry.

For More Information

For more information as to how you can volunteer and/or bring a group to YPWC contact us via our website, or by calling 814-263-4855.