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‘It wasn’t only about service’
archived from: 2007-08-06
by: John Franko

More than 100 teens from a North Carolina parish recently brought their mission spirit to the area for a week of service activities.

Accompanied by 21 adults, the teens of St. Peter Parish in Greenville traveled throughout the diocese the week of July 21-28.

They were housed at the retreat center of St. Paul of the Cross Monastery on Pittsburgh’s South Side.

“Everyone has been so wonderful to us,” said Joseph Faris, parish youth minister, during a break in the schedule.

The teens went out in 18 different crews, with eight or nine different sites being visited each day.

The sites included the Little Sisters of the Poor facilities in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood, Jubilee Kitchen in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, East End Cooperative Ministries in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood and Holy Family Institute in Emsworth.

They also visited facilities in Steubenville and Toronto, Ohio.

“They had the opportunity to interact with people they normally wouldn’t,” said Stan Kossol, a Charleroi native who accompanied his two sons on the trip. “They learn how other people live and how they can help them.”

The North Carolina parish is tied to the monastery because it is staffed by Passionist priests, who operate the South Side facility.

Passionist Father Patrick Daugherty, parochial vicar, accompanied the group to Pittsburgh. He said the efforts of the teens reflect the compassion in their hearts.

“We tell them they’re going to change the world,” he said. “As young people, that’s what they’re trying to do.”

Father Daugherty said the service projects help prevent the young people from getting caught up in a materialistic existence that can lead to an unfulfilled life.

He noted that by taking part in activities they can see the fruits of the Eucharist feeding them, and use its graces to go out and make a difference.

“They come back with a different view of life,” he said.

Father Daugherty said the trip gives the students a different view of the church. Less than 9 percent of the population in North Carolina is Catholic, and priests, religious sisters and brothers are few in number. He noted that some of the teens had never seen a religious sister in full habit before.

Father Daugherty has another connection to the area. He was ordained a transitional deacon by Bishop David Zubik.

Faris pointed out that the trip is much more than a mission, describing it as more of a retreat.

The teens attended daily Mass, and about half of them took part in a 6:30 rosary walk each morning.

“It wasn’t only about service, but bringing us closer to God,” said Kristy King, 18.

The parish has sponsored a mission trip for the past 21 years, and it was the fifth visit to Pittsburgh.

Bryan Kossol, 18, said he was enjoying every aspect of the trip, particularly his visit with residents of low-income housing.

“It was great to get into the community,” he said.

In addition to their service work, the teens attended a Pirates games and visited Kennywood Park.

Passionist Father Patrick Geinzer, a member of the retreat team at St. Paul of the Cross, served as a parochial vicar at St. Peter in Greenville. He said the parish has always been a strong supporter of mission efforts.

He said the efforts reflect not only the Passionist charism of the cross, but of meeting the needs of the suffering body of Christ in the contemporary world.

“And that’s what they’re meeting,” he said. “They’re meeting suffering people.”

The parish hopes to return to the area next summer.

More information on the trip is available by visiting the group’s blog at: www.lifeteenmissiontrip2007.blogspot.com.

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