Experiencing life together

By Steven Polley

Director, Office of Youth Ministry

As I was growing up in Kit Carson and attending St. Augustine Parish with my family, I very quickly saw what stewardship was all about. I always saw my family put the envelope into the collection basket; my grandfather often served as usher, and my mother became more involved in the music ministry.

I remember well some Sunday’s when we would have “Whatsoever You Do” as the communion song. For any of us who are familiar with this song, it is a song that focuses on the Corporal Works of Mercy and Matthew’s Gospel 25: 31 – 46. It is a very powerful song with a true message of justice and peace. Probably the only challenging thing for this song is the 12 verses. So, quite often when my mother did the music for Mass, I would be with her at the organ, simply to point out which verse we were on while everyone was receiving communion.

My guess is that it was here that I too first began to understand what the Church teaches about justice and peace and helping others. Recently, I was again able to witness this first hand. The Tuesday after Memorial Day, Father Jim Dieker, Mike Franco, Maureen Meierhoff and Linda Neatherlin gathered a group of young men and women from Mary, Queen of Peace Parish in Ulysses and St. Bernadette Parish in Johnson. Together with a small group of past and current youth council representatives from the diocese, we traveled to Stafford County and spent the day helping one family clean-up from the severe storms that swept through the area this spring. The day consisted of walking an alfalfa field and rebuilding a five wire fence. (See Page 19.)

Through this day, I saw several things happen that were simply awe-inspiring. The first was how well the kids came together to work as one to accomplish the task at hand. But too, I saw young people who were challenged to step out of a comfort zone. There were times, I am sure they were thinking about other things and wishing that they were home, but they hung in there and got the job done. I too saw Father Dieker, a wonderful priest who lives the sacramental life daily, but one who knows full well what pastoral care is all about, drive a four wheeler, walk through standing water and mud to get the job done. What a powerful witness he was for the priestly life and this vocation.

My secretary Kathryn Werner gave me a calendar this year with quotes from Rick Warren. This month’s quote sums up what this day was all about: “The word [fellowship] has lost most of its biblical meaning. ‘Fellowship’ now usually refers to casual conversation, socializing, food and fun… Real fellowship is… experiencing life together.”

I have no idea what faith and/or belief in God the people we helped had. But what I do know from this day, is that for these few short hours, we did experience life together. For myself, it is a day that I will remember always.

“Whatsoever you do to the least ones….” During these summer months many groups go on mission trips and do exactly the same thing I have spoken of. Can we use these summer months to bring all of our young people to this same awareness? May God continue to guide and bless you in all you do.