Aug. 5, 2015 By Suzanne Pietropaoli For the past five years, young people from the Diocese of Ogdensburg have traveled hundreds of miles to From June 28-July 4, a hundred high school students from around the country gathered at Wadhams Hall, extending the CHWC mission to share the love of Christ through service to those in need. Up at 6:45 and at their work sites by 8:15, these teens worked long hours before returning to Wadhams Hall by 3:30 each day. There, after long hours of cleaning, hauling, painting and landscaping, and anything else that needed doing, they enjoyed some free time before dinner with skits, live music, and other activities afterwards—as well as games, laughter, and good companionship. Eucharistic Adoration and confessions were an integral part of the camp week, as was daily Mass, including one celebrated by Bishop Terry LaValley. The contributions made by Catholic HEART Workcamp teams at various sites in the Ogdensburg area were significant and deeply appreciated. Dan Harradine and Rob Romano, president and vice-president, respectively, of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul in Ogdensburg, could not say enough about the CHWC teens and the work that they did. “They helped us move our store to its new location in the Bishop Conroy building. This involved cleaning the new place, painting, packing and moving the merchandise, and then thoroughly cleaning the old store.” “We were amazed by what they accomplished.” Romano said. “We could never have moved that store in the time we did without their help. And they were so pleasant the whole time! We can’t wait for them to come back!” Kevin Cole, facilities manager at St. Joseph’s Home, had a similar experience. “What a group of kids,” he says of the CHWC teens who painted, cleaned offices, and did landscaping at St. Joseph’s. “They have a tremendous work ethic that will serve them well in the future. The work they accomplished would have taken us months to do. They are welcome back any time!” Celina Burns feels the same way. Former principal at the now-closed St.Marguerite d’Youville Academy, and currently DRE for the parishes of Ogdensburg, Mrs. Burns connected with two different CHWC teams. The first group helped pack up the entire school library, which is being donated to St. Mary’s School in Ticonderoga as they rebuild after a devastating fire. “The teens were so cheerful,” Mrs. Burns says, “and so diligent. They were careful to keep the books in order so that when the boxes got to Ticonderoga, the books were all ready to be shelved. The principal there was delighted!” The teens who helped at Vacation Bible School were equally helpful. “Jesus uses these young people very powerfully,” Mrs. Burn said. “I can’t wait for them to come back, so our kids can see more of them!” Jocelyn Kelly, DRE at St. Mary’s in Fort Covington, has been bringing teens (including her own) to Catholic HEART Workcamp for the past five years; she and Samantha Poulin (DRE at St. Andre Bessette Parish in Malone) served as camp managers for this year’s event at Wadhams Hall. Mrs. Kelly knows firsthand the value of the service the teens provide—and of the blessings they receive. ”I was privileged to witness the transformation that took place from beginning to end,” she said. “The teens left camp a bit different from when they arrived: stronger in their faith, more hopeful in their purpose, and with a deeper sense of charity toward their neighbor. “Too, we completed a great deal of work in Ogdensburg and the surrounding communities and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the people we served,” Mrs. Kelly said. “Something special happens when young people pray, serve, play and laugh together!” Another CHWC veteran and group leader for the diocesan contingent, Angie Bashaw of Fort Covington, observes that having the camp in our own diocese made it even better. “I was blessed to spend the week with this group of 20 kids from our diocese,” she said. “They made me proud, knowing that they represent the future of our faith here at home. “It was also great to see all this service work getting done here in our own parishes, schools, community centers, and at private homes,” she said. “I can’t wait to see the level of interest next year will bring now that the community knows what a bunch of teenagers can accomplish when they are challenged to work, pray, and praise for the glory of our Heavenly Father.” Addressing the campers at week’s end Samantha Poulin applauded them for their contributions. “We are so, so, so grateful for all the work you’ve done and all the people you have helped here,” she said. “You definitely made a huge impact—we have had nothing but compliments all week! God brought you here for a reason. Keep that in your hearts and take it with you!”
What happens at Catholic HEART Workcamp? Teenagers... By Fr. Bryan Stitt I first attended a Catholic HEART Workcamp in 2012 near Boston at the invitation of Father Martin Cline. There were 20 of us who went down that year and we had a great time. I went to take part in the camp, not to serve as chaplain. Although I was concelebrating Mass every day and assisting with confessions, in other respects I was working with the kids like any other adult chaperone.
Like just about any Catholic camp today, CHWC helps youth connect with their faith in an experiential way. Holy Mass is offered every day. There is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and confession, as well as small group prayer opportunities. The kids also have some great fun. From the pick-up Frisbee games to the great music and crazy group activities, the kids have such a joy-filled experience. But it’s the way that CHWC responds to the call to service that keeps bringing me back these past four years. You get to serve the poor for an extended period and get to do so right in our own back yard. Since this was the first year CHWC was hosted at Wadhams Hall, the college-aged staff that brought CHWC to us had many firsts. I really don’t know how they do it: they show up at a site that they have never seen before, unpack all their equipment (including state-of-the-art sound and light equipment, beautiful signs and backdrops, and a crazy load of tools) and set up a summer camp in 24 hours. The campers and chaperones show up on Sunday afternoon, and the staff puts on the camp for five days. Then they pack up their truck, drive hundreds of miles, and do the whole thing again next week. The staff loved Wadhams Hall! Often the camps are hosted in schools and Mass is celebrated in a gym, but the beautiful chapel at Wadhams added a much greater sense of the sacred to the worship. The campers are always good at entertaining themselves, but having the huge fields at Wadhams and a game room with pool, foosball, and Ping-Pong tables was unheard of. And while campers and staff often have to sleep on classroom floors, at Wadhams they had beds and shower rooms! Many of the staff said it was one of the best facilities they had ever used. I’m really expecting a lot for next year. Presuming that we’re given permission to host the camp There is a lot of talk going around the Ogdensburg area these days as well. I expect that next year there will be a lot more people eager to get CHWC to come and do some of their service at local homes and organizations. |
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participate in Catholic HEART Workcamp. This year Catholic HEART Workcamp came to Ogdensburg. 
Jocelyn Kelly, the DRE from his parish, was leading another group that year; he had wanted to join them but was unable to. 
Maybe it has something to do with growing up the son of a plumber and the grandson of an electrician, but I love a chance to work with my hands. So I got thrown into a group of older campers who had to level a small barn. It was intense physical work, but it was so much fun. They worked so hard, they played so hard, and they prayed really hard too. CHWC really mixes its groups up, so I was with campers from Boston, Illinois, and Maryland - complete strangers on Sunday, but great friends by the end of the week.
again, and presuming that CHWC is willing to return, I expect that the numbers will be much higher. Registration opens up in mid-August for next summer, so if folks are interested, they should sign up to bring a group before school starts.