(August 11, 2006) Twenty-four area high school students are foregoing summer vacations in order to serve disadvantaged people in South Jersey, as the Diocese of Camden holds its annual ‘Summer in the City’ from August 13 to August 19.
The program is sponsored by the diocese’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Now in its 16th year (it was last held in 2004, as World Youth Day occurred in Summer 2005), ‘Summer in the City’ is a chance for high school students to be involved in various social service projects in urban areas while enjoying fellowship and opportunities for spiritual enrichment. Students will be staying at St. Raymond Parish, Villas.
“The week-long program is meant to open the eyes of young people to the needs of the inner city,” said Sister Karen McConnell, coordinator of Youth Ministry for Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties. “It is an immersion experience where young people put the gospel into action through service to their neighbor.” The students will attend catechetical sessions and each day will participate in various service projects, including assisting at Catholic Charities’ Rio Grande and Atlantic City Family Services and Community Service Centers, and “The Friends of Jean Webster,” an organization of the Jean Webster Kitchen at the First Presbyterian Church of Atlantic City, which feeds 300-400 homeless people each day.
Sunday evening $12 will be allocated for each group of four students, with which they are to purchase their breakfast, lunch and dinner for Monday. The amount represents what a family of four receives in food stamps.
In addition, each evening there will be speakers and presentations on a range of topics, including the dignity of the human person, gangs (by Bridgeton Police), Operation Helping Hands (Catholic Charities’ efforts to assist those impacted by Hurricane Katrina).