St. John’s, Appleton youth busy serving others

by Sharon Piotter

The Confirmation students at St. John’s parish in Appleton truly experienced the meaning of service.

Our mission trip to the Twin Cities started off with Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary’s where we were given a guided tour. Our next stop was at Hennepin Children’s Hospital where the students handed out games and teddy bears. Then, on to a homeless shelter where the students and parents served lunch to the homeless and handed out articles of clothing. The next stop was at Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army. Here more articles of clothing were given to those in need. We also handed out pizza that was purchased from cash donations from area businesses in the cities. Students visited with the men that were standing in line waiting to get into the shelter for the night. The last stop was at the Marie Sandvig Center where some of us prepared supper, some sorted clothes, and some sorted donations of toiletries, gloves, caps, games, and more.

I have been asked why take the students to the cities?

First of all, I felt we must get the youth out of the comfort of their homes. They need the opportunity to experience first hand about people who have great needs and hurts - teens their own ages, mothers, children and the homeless men. Here in Appleton, we do not see people sleeping in the streets, hungry people digging through the dumpsters at supermarkets or quick food stops, and people standing in line at the shelters waiting for a warm place to sleep.

Mission experiences can give them a broader view of the world in which we live. The Internet and TV news place the world at our fingertips, but that is only a part of viewing what God has created. When we enter into the cultures, observe the circumstances of the needy, only then can we understand their plight and the ways we can help. It is my hope that through this experience the students will learn to appreciate what they have and be more willing to serve others on a daily basis. After all, the true purpose is to serve others as we are also serving God.

Other service projects the students participated in this year include: Baby Jesus shower where items were donated to the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Morris, MN; Lights on Project where students went door-to-door to collect perishable foods to donate to Swift County Food Shelf. Students also packed food baskets; raked lawns for shut-ins; served food at Ash Wednesday soup supper; and helped serve and clean-up at the parish holiday festival.