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Some want to give back, others want to get a head start on their service hours for the upcoming school year, or there are even those whose parents don't want idle minds, hearts and hands around the house all day and they strongly "insist" that their children do something! Our Youth Coordinator, Lisa Collins, does an excellent job trying to accommodate all the various schedules and to help students have a rewarding volunteering experience.
Of particular note this summer was once again the visiting students from Sacramento and Seattle who were participating in Young Neighbors in Action - a Catholic youth program designed to help young people have an immersion experience working with folks on the down side of fortunate at this time. For a week they help and learn about SVdP and the broader social issues in the community. From volunteering at Cafe St. Vincent in SSF to visiting the parish based Conference of Good Shepherd in Pacifica (on a very windy day!), their good spirit, gracious smiles, and kindness touched both those served and those within SVdP who accompanied them—their parents should rightfully be very proud of these young people and their summer of outreach.
On the other hand however, some parents have had to face the difficult experience this summer of seeing their children detained in Juvenile Hall. In poorer neighborhoods, it is often very difficult for youth to stay out of trouble when gangs and errant behaviors contribute to lawlessness and family heartbreak. One of several situations to come SVdP's way this summer was that of a hardworking family whose 14-year-old son was caught up in street violence. This has led to his coming before the courts, and being locked up. The hope was that he would be released in time to return for the beginning of the school year. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
Our Restorative Justice Ministry (Head Chaplain Marty Schurr and Juvenile Chaplain Nancy DiMartini) are walking with these parents who long for their son to return home and be restored to their family and the community. As the father grieves and the mother suffers during this ordeal, it is hoped that this young man is learning that the lifestyle he was leaning towards will only result in heartbreak for himself, his parents, siblings and those of us at SVdP who know and want to support him and this family upon his return home.
So as the summer sun grows softer and we begin to journey towards autumn, may we be grateful and hopeful—grateful for the sun's rays as they continue to illuminate the goodness that is to be found within each and every child of God and hopeful that students and juveniles alike - and their families, will always know that it is only God's mercy and compassion that can overcome any apparent threatening darkness with the true Son-light of God's Unconditional Love.
Lorraine Moriarty
Executive Director |
