By Rose O’Connor | Correspondent
Deacon David Colter surveyed the 20 or so teens who gathered March 18 to help distribute food in the parish center of St. Raphael Church.
“The kids really want to give back and serve their communities,” he said as youngsters from the Life Teen youth ministry based in St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish volunteered their morning for Reach Out Saturday – an opportunity for those in need to receive items from the parish food pantry at the Hamilton church.
Deacon Colter, whose son Dominic is part of the youth ministry, said students are tuned in to the need to serve others.
“Service is universal, and they get it,” he said. “To serve is testament to their faith. It’s a vehicle to reach the youth, to put their faith into action. Service ultimately connects the teachings of the Church and their own Christian values.”
Dominic Colter, 16, concurred.
“We need to give back to the community, especially being members of Life Teen,” said Colter, a student in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville.
According to its mission statement, Life Teen is “as a Eucharist-centered movement” within the Church that, using the Virgin Mary as a guide, “seeks to unleash the fullness of the Sacramental power present within the young Church.”
Over the past weeks, the Life Teen youth have been collecting non-perishable food items and were invited to help the parish food pantry ministry, which has been serving clients in the Trenton-Hamilton area since 1999.
On this Reach Out Saturday, the Life Teen youth joined food pantry volunteers in gathering bags of prepared foods and loading them into the clients’ vehicles.
“Service is a huge part of my life,” said Juliet Sidone, 16, a parishioner and Life Teen member. “It’s our faith. It’s right there in the Bible: feed the hungry and clothe the naked,” the Notre Dame High School student offered.
Life Teen member Emily Floyd, 15, said she enjoyed spending time with the clients.
“I like that we get to help them and have conversations,” said Floyd, parishioner of Sts. Francis and Clare, Florence Township. “[The clients] are so thankful and kindhearted. They have such faith, and it’s touching to see. It gives me hope.”
Floyd also has volunteered in the food pantry at her parish.
“When the opportunity arises to help, I do it,” said parishioner Natanael Casiano, 15. “It’s good to serve the community.”
The idea of youth inspiring each other to serve the parish, Diocese and the community is important to Deacon Colter.
“We try to encourage peer leadership. The kids invite other kids to join them when we have opportunities to serve others,” he said.
The opportunity to serve others has certainly increased since the parish food pantry began 18 years ago.
“We started with 27 clients, now we are well over 200,” said John Margicin, who founded the operation with fellow parishioner Marybeth Webster.
“We’re part of the Mercer Street Food Bank, so we receive state and federal food aid. We’re open twice a month, and we’re fully staffed by volunteers who give their time stocking the food and making up bags,” Margicin explained.
While this was the first time the Life Teen members volunteered at the food pantry, Deacon Colter is hoping it certainly won’t be the last.
“I’m impressed with how many of the kids showed up ready to help,” he said. “It’s always important to serve the underserved and support our parish, as they’ve always been so supportive of us.
“We’re always looking and planning for what’s next,” he added. “We need to keep the momentum going.”