More than 30 teenagers from across Manhattan are spending this week living out a simple lesson: faith means showing up for others.
The Teen Retreat at the parish of Holy Name of Jesus-St. Gregory the Great on the Upper West Side is built around the theme “Take Courage. Let’s Light Up Our City!” It concludes on Sunday, August 2.
Coordinators said the week offers the teens opportunities to develop friendships, participate in service projects, and take part in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as attend Mass and go on city excursions.
Rosaries and bracelets
“It provides the kids the opportunity to participate in the community (through service projects) – the community sees them, and they see the community,” Ana Paula Panzarini, director of the parish’s Evangelization and Faith Formation, told The Good Newsroom on site Thursday. “A lot of the kids are part of our faith formation programs; they engage in fun activities while learning about God, helping them to learn how to pray on their own.”
Panzarini also noted, “They are in a safe space with other kids, having fun and making new friends. We were at Six Flags yesterday, but it was more than just being at Six Flags. It was about being together, in community. Tomorrow we’re going to go to work with the Missionaries of Charity in Harlem…This program is sponsored by an archdiocesan pastoral grant, Sharing God’s Gifts.”
On July 30, with a theme of “Courage to Serve” and a reminder from the Book of John 13:1-15-“Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet,” participants viewed the washing-of-feet scene from the series “The Chosen” on a large screen.
Service projects included making rosaries and hope bracelets, as well as cleaning the church.
In their own words
Johanna S. Rueddel, 16, was among the young people at the retreat on Thursday. She told The Good Newsroom, “I really like it here; it’s a really nice camp. I’m probably going to be back next year. It’s nearby, and I like the (parish) community, the vibe…I learned that you can bring the things you learn from the Bible into your everyday life, into the world; we learned about what is important in life.” Johanna’s family parish is St. Ignatius Loyola, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
“I want to come back next year so I can meet new people. We learned about the Bible and Jesus. When we learn about Jesus, we also do games. My mom signed me up for this camp…I really enjoy the friends I made and the time we have together,” said Sterling Luna, 10, who was also at the retreat gathering on Thursday. Holy Name is his home parish.
Both Sterling and Johanna said they enjoyed the Six Flags outing and the camaraderie, the togetherness during the day. Sterling was allowed in Teen Retreat under special permission; his older sister is in the camp, and he’s preparing for baptism.
Fr. Carlos Limongi, Holy Name’s pastor, joined the circle time and morning reflection, telling the youths about his role as an NYPD chaplain. Fr. Limongi later celebrated Mass at noon. In his homily, he noted that no matter our past misdeeds, “we can still turn to things that are good and true and noble.”