By Ken Downey & Thomas Wiedmann | Correspondents

Memorable among the many quotes and lessons of Martin Luther King Jr. is one that reflects the principal foundation of an inspirational national holiday: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”

That question was answered the week of Jan. 14 as parish and school youth gathered at service sites across the Diocese for Day of Service projects to honor the late civil rights leader.

Raising Awareness

As part of the Lawrenceville-based Center for FaithJustice service project, youth in grades six to 12 teamed up Jan. 15 to volunteer at multiple sites around the Diocese, gathering at two churches to begin their day in prayer, reflection and fellowship.

In St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, youth joined the Freehold Clergy Association in a morning interfaith prayer service before being sent out for their service projects.

Photo Gallery: MLK with St. Robert Bellarmine, Freehold

One group spent their time at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold, where they designed and handed out cards to nearly 30 patients at the hospital’s Manor Care Center. The teens spent an hour in the hospital’s board room coloring, drawing and pasting images such as doves and flowers onto cards with messages of hope and solace to the patient recipients, with messages of “Get well” and “Feel better soon.”

As Sharon Douglas, director of pastoral care at CentraState, prepared a stack of cards with the teens, she emphasized the significance of their efforts to the patients and its importance on building moral character.

“I think it’s good to get everybody together to realize how we’re all connected, and so projects like this bring us together in equality, thinking about truth and being good to other people,” Douglas said. “I think we all have faith, but we just don’t know how to tap into it. Projects like this permeate that faith to others. When we go out onto the floors, we’ll be able to see the beauty of how that faith is spread, permeating love and emotional support to others.”  

Gavin Ahern, 17, and his brother Colten, 15, of St. Rose Parish, Freehold, took pleasure in the day of service.

“I think it’s our duty at least to do volunteer work,” said Gavin Ahern. “The Church has definitely gotten me to go out and do extra work. It’s built around community service with a lot of volunteering. I enjoy it.”

God in Diversity

Another group gave their time and efforts to Catholic Charities, Lakewood. Led by Jen Perry, pastoral associate in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral Parish, the students sorted and arranged donated goods such as clothes, jeans, shoes and houseware upon racks and shelves for those in need around the community.

“I think more than ever, there are people in need who aren’t necessarily being taken care of, so it’s up to us to get out there and do it,” Perry said. “Most importantly, getting kids to volunteer with a project like this is connecting the kids with faith along with social justice champions like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. so that they understand the reason they’re doing this isn’t so they can get something in return, but to give because it’s the right thing to do.”

Sarah Sanchez, 14, of St. Rose Parish, Freehold, found keystone elements of the Catholic faith in the arduous process of sorting through boxes and piles of donated goods scattered around her in the room.

“It’s an experience that makes me feel good because you know you’re giving up your own time to go out and help other people,” said Sanchez. “In our church, we learn to love our neighbors no matter who they are, so I think this is a great experience to actually go out and help one of our neighbors.”

Not only did the service project instill moral values for the volunteering group, but it also gave teens, Ben and Nathaniel Perry of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, a chance to reflect on the social issues of poverty in communities.

“You get to see what kind of situations people go through, what poverty is really like. You see the people who come here don’t have many options,” said Ben Perry, 17. “Just to care for everyone and help out as much as possible, and to care for the poor, sick, and needy – you see the situation other people are in and it makes me appreciate my own situation a bit more.”

“Experiencing all of this can explain and tell how much people really care for the poor and abandoned,” added Nathaniel Perry, 14. “It’s very important to help everyone as much as you can whether they’re poor or rich, knowing that even if we weren’t the ones who donated, we’re still the ones helping to sort out donated clothes and that we’re there to help.”

After completing their service, the interfaith groups reconvened again in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish for afternoon reflection activities, including a discussion on Dr. King’s philosophies for social justice, and closing prayer. 

Similarly, youth who gathered in St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, began the day with prayer before being dispersed to a number of different service locations coordinated by the Center for FaithJustice, including Visitation Home, Hamilton, which serves adults with developmental disabilities.

“Our group was blessed to serve at the Visitation Home,” said Bobbie Abarno, volunteer, parent and member of St. Ann Parish. “We met and interacted with the residents, playing games and doing puzzles. We also learned about Martin Luther King Jr. and his quest for interracial peace.”

For Colleen Paras, a parent volunteer and member of St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Kendall Park, Diocese of Metuchen, who frequently partners with the Center for FaithJustice, the day was a blessing.

“It is a privilege to bring St. Augustine’s middle school students to Visitation Home as part of CFJ’s MLK service day. Our students had fun playing with residents but felt especially blessed to learn about the many ways God works in diversity,” she said.

Added Nicole Powers, a parent volunteer and member of St. Ann Parish, “To see such love and kindness inspired me to want to do more for the community I live in, and I truly hope the experience does the same for my children who shared the day with me.” 

Blessing of Receiving

While many Catholic parishes and organizations were on the giving end of service projects, those from The Catholic Youth Organization of Mercer County spoke to the meaning, and the fruit of gratitude, that comes from receiving.

Students from The Lawrenceville School, a private school in Lawrenceville, spent three hours at the Broad Street location Jan. 17 participating in multiple projects, including painting benches and shelves, organizing the storage room and attic as well as sitting down and playing with the 3 to 5-year-old preschoolers.

Photo Gallery: MLK with Mercer County CYO Broad Street Center

“I feel that most of our kids who are here today see people who care about them,” said Tom Mladenetz, CYO executive director. “Most of the kids that we serve here, a majority of them come from lower-income families, and they don’t have a lot of the things at home that most of us take for granted. It makes [the kids] feel good, and it warms their hearts when new people, not just the staff, take care of them. At an early age, that’s making an impact on them.”

“As a Catholic Youth Organization, we try to teach our kids good values and we teach them the importance of doing for others, and there are certainly a lot of parallels with these projects,” Mladenetz continued. “To have a group of kids come in and knock out a bunch of projects really makes a big impact for us. It helps us fulfill our mission.”

The Lawrenceville School has more than 15 years’ experience working with the CYO of Mercer County for the MLK Day of Service. The school also sends a few volunteers to help each Friday.

David Wilcox, a first-year math teacher in the school, said the experience was a time to discover what the day was really about.

“For everyone here, including myself, it’s a great opportunity to come out and see what’s going on beyond the walls of our school. To have an opportunity to interact with some young kids in a high-profile, very successful organization, it’s rewarding,” he said.

Helping Hands

Also with service agencies in mind, youth from Blessed Sacrament-Our Lady of the Divine Shepherd Parish, Trenton, lent a helping hand Jan. 15 at the Mercer Street Friends Warehouse, Ewing.

“The overall theme of the program was a perfect blend of understanding the current needs of our community, with partnering with other community groups to pitch in and experience the most enlightening volunteer opportunity ever,” said Tracey Walters, parish youth coordinator.

“This experience, along with the kindness and respect the staff at Mercer Street Friends showed our children, has demonstrated to them what people of honor and  commitment look like by example, and we are confident the day’s events will have a lasting effect on all of them.”