Positivity: Midwest students take mission trip to NYC
From Lincoln, Nebraska, and New York City:
Lincoln, Neb., Jun 29, 2009 / 05:53 pm
Twelve high school and college students from southeastern Nebraska traveled to New York City early this month to spend a week doing mission work with the city’s different religious orders.
Father Jamie Hottovy of St. John Parish in Prague, Nebraska and Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Plasi took the young group to the bustling city so they could experience the work that the different orders in the city do to assist the people living there.
“Every day we did something different. We spent each day with one of the groups we were helping, doing whatever they asked of us,” said one student named Jessica Sousek.
The days were long and filled with activity. Morning began around 6 or 7 a.m. and the group worked until 10 or 11 p.m. The students shared meals together, as well as daily Mass, and an afternoon Holy Hour. A few sight-seeing excursions were squeezed in between projects as well
“We prayed hard, we worked hard, and we played hard,” Father Hottovy said. “We did about a month’s worth of activities in one week.”
On the first day, the women helped the Sisters of Life cook and clean the formation house. Meanwhile, the men worked with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR) at St. Crispin Friary in the Bronx, renovating their building with new drywall and paint.
The next day, the group worked with the Missionaries of Charity, the New York division of Blessed Mother Teresa’s order. In preparation for summer catechism programs for underprivileged kids, the Nebraska students cleaned and set up the auditorium, saving the sisters a great deal of time.
Later in the week, the group returned to serve the Missionaries of Charity at one of their AIDS hospices, once again cooking and cleaning.
“That was something very powerful,” Father Hottovy said describing the seemingly mundane tasks. “By sweeping and by cleaning toilets, [the students were] working for the greater good and helping people who don’t have as many advantages as they do.”
The students also assisted the Franciscan brothers in preparing for a “Jesus Run.”
“The ‘Jesus Run’ consisted of sharing physical needs, such as food, drink, and clothing, with spiritual and emotional needs, such as sharing in prayer or just talking, for the homeless of New York City,” explained Ashley Paseka, another student.
Brother Marianon, CFR, prepared them for interaction with the homeless.
“He emphasized that, whomever we met that night, we should see Jesus in each one of those people and receive them with the love you’d receive Christ,” recalled Father Hottovy. “It brought the experience to a whole new level.”
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