St. Francis de Sales church completes summer mission

VERNON — For the fifth consecutive year, the Youth Ministry of St. Francis de Sales has sent a group of teens and adults to Rochester, N.Y.

The group participated in a mission program sponsored by S.H.I.N.E. Catholic Work Camps. SHINE is a Catholic-based Service Retreat Program out of Tomball, Texas. SHINE stands for “Servin’ Him in the Needy and the Elderly.”

During the summer months, they sponsor mission trips throughout the country. The group spent its week in Rochester working in cooperation with various agencies such as Habitat for Humanity, Catholic Charities, UMCOR, United Way and local churches helping the elderly, disabled, or unemployed. Along with the powerful service opportunities, there are daily liturgies, Adoration, great team building activities, guest speakers, music and high energy worship and praise.

The purpose of these trips is to help our teens grow in their church and faith and to show them, “that even the smallest of deeds can make a huge difference in someone’s life, and you can be a part of that.”

All who have gone on these trips have stated they come back changed in a good way.

One of the teens said, “This trip humbled me.”

Another stated, “The best kind of trip is one where you can connect with others through your faith. A mission trip like this makes you realize how fortunate you are to have what you have and how blessed you are to be able to do what you have the ability to do.” A possible trip to Boston is already in the planning for next summer.