8
August 19, 2014
catholic schools
CATHOLIC EDUCATION INSPIRES
Middle schoolers meet St. Catherine Summer
Challenge, engage in service week
By Roselynn Pucan-Meagor
When 28 incoming sixth through
eighth graders registered for the St.
Catherine Summer Challenge -- SC² at
St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in
Morgan Hill, they did not know what
to expect.
It was a new program, a middle
school service week that was part of the
parish’s response to the diocesan Catholic On Purpose initiative to develop new
ways for youth to connect to the parish
community and encounter Jesus in their
everyday lives.
Modeled after a program in Austin,
Texas, SC² creates opportunities for
middle-schoolers to put faith into action
and fill the immediate need for junior
leaders for Vacation Bible School.
SC² participants began the week with
a mini-retreat where discussions focused on Christ Jesus as the example of
a servant leader. The youth then served
at organizations in teams of 4 or 5, with
an adult team leader.
They served lunch to seniors at
Centennial Recreation Senior Center
in Morgan Hill; restocked food items
and assisted at Reach Out food pantry;
helped repaint “no parking” zones for
St. Catherine Church; and picked blackberries at Chiala Farms to bring to the
food pantry and senior center.
At St. Vincent de Paul, teams sorted
clothes and shoes for a children’s clothing giveaway and assembled clothing
donation bags to give to parishioners.
As junior leaders for Vacation Bible
School, SC² participants served on teams
for drama/music, media, snack and
outdoor activities and in the grade level
classes. Each day ended with journaling
and discussion, keys to help participants
reflect on their experiences