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Students urged to learn about, support missions
archived from: 2004-10-22
by: John Franko

They are some 4,000 miles apart, but diocesan officials hope a new student ambassador program will help bridge the gap between the children of southwestern Pennsylvania and the children of Chimbote, Peru.

The diocese kicked off the project by hosting a Mission Day on Oct. 15 at Brookline Regional Catholic School in Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood. Students and teacher representatives from each of the 109 diocesan elementary schools were in attendance.

“It was wonderful,” said Sister of Charity Mary Jo Mutschler, assistant superintendent for elementary schools. “You could really see God’s action at work among the children, teachers and presenters. The interaction was great.”

The gathering included a presentation by WTAE anchorman Mike Clark, who produced an award-winning video of his trip to the diocesan mission in Chimbote; student mission ambassador sessions that featured presentations by people who have been involved in mission work; and a liturgy featuring Latin American music.

The program was sponsored by the Secretariat for Education, the local Latin American communities and the Mission Office.

“We live in a world where mission awareness isn’t as strong as it used to be,” said Father Ron Lengwin, director of the Office for Public and Community Affairs and the Mission Office.

Father Kris Stubna, secretary for education, said the diocese is proud of the young people who are committed to reaching out to their needy brothers and sisters.

“This program will help to build stronger bridges of compassion and friendship between the youth of Pittsburgh and the families of Chimbote,” he said.

“As more of our students become mission ambassadors we are helping the next generation of the church to care for the poor and share what they have with others in need.”

Clark said his 2000 visit changed his life as he saw faith in action in many ways. He visits at least two schools a month to talk about his experiences.

He asked the students to do their part in spreading the message, adding, “Think of lighting a fire and having it spread all over the place — that Jesus is alive.”

Clark and businessman Tom Shanahan approached the diocese with the idea of starting a mission outreach for students.

Sister of St. Joseph Janice Vanderneck, who served as a Mission Day presenter, echoed Clark’s thoughts in stating that the message is more than just about raising money. It must also inspire the students to reach out with compassion.

“Kids have a natural response to the suffering of others,” she said. “They want to put their arms around them and share what they have.”

Eric Schmura, 13, an eighth-grader at Nativity in South Park, said he was looking forward to taking the message back to his school.

“Everybody should be treated fairly,” he said. “It’s not right that people are down there suffering. I’d be glad to help them.”

Amber Forrisi, 13, an eighth-grader at St. Mary of the Mount in Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington neighborhood, said more people must be educated on the missions.

“People don’t know what’s going on,” she said. “A lot of people don’t even have electricity and water.I think we can make a difference if we put our minds to it.”

Added classmate Kelsey Bechtell, 13: “We take 10-minute showers and sometimes they don’t shower for a week.”

For Erin Diskin, 11, a sixth-grader at St. Athanasius in West View, the message was a simple one.

“We all should do what Jesus did and help other people out.”

Sister Mary Jo said it was important for the students to hear from people who have served in the missions because they can inspire them with their first-hand accounts.

“We hope they can touch their lives in the same way,” she said.

The liturgy was celebrated by Father Tom Kredel, pastor of St. Louise de Marillac in Upper St. Clair, who served in Peru for six years.

“Those six years were some of the happiest years in my life,” he told the students.

Father Kredel celebrated much of the Mass in Spanish.

He described the poor as being special in the eyes of God, and he told the young people that they have the opportunity to make lives better by building bridges between the two communities.

“Remember, you should go back to your schools and help make the missions an important part of school life,” he said.

As part of the program, student and teacher representatives from each of the 16 deaneries have been invited to the annual Chimbote Mission Dinner to be held Oct. 28 at the Sheraton Station Square.

Mercy Sister Barbara Ann Quinn, principal of Holy Child in Bridgeville, said it will be a good opportunity for the students to witness to the adults.

“It’s important that people understand how much the youth of the diocese are involved in raising funds for the missions,” she said.

Said Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Janet Milan, a teacher at St. Mary of the Mount: “It makes them aware that missions really aren’t that far away. It’s something that’s happening right now and it continues to go on.”

Sister Mary Jo said it is hoped that the Mission Day will become an annual or biennial event.

“The whole idea of calling the students ‘ambassadors,’ they really took to it,” she said.

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