By Matthew Greeley | Special  Contributor

Bad weather could not thwart efforts to get the Mercer County CYO’s Yardville Camp ready for its spring opening.  The camp is home to a myriad of activities starting in the next few weeks, so some young people from around the diocese gathered to lend a hand.

Teens from Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, and St. Anselm Parish, Tinton Falls, took shovels and rakes to the mounds of fresh woodchips needed for the camp’s numerous playgrounds.

Thomas Mladenetz, executive director of the Mercer County CYO, expressed his gratitude. He said that while the work was not glamorous, it was vital to the camp’s operations. 

The teens involved were happy to jump right in and brought a spirit of enthusiasm and joy to the job.  It was also a great opportunity to get to know teens from another part of the diocese.

Youth ministers from the two parishes – Kimberly Connolly (St. Anselm) and Karen Craven (OLS-St. Anthony) – showed their dedication to offering opportunities to their youth to bring their faith to life.  Weather reports called for rain all day, and the Wayside area had lost power due to a storm in the early morning, but everything worked out well in the end.

“These young people are setting a great example for everyone, even for my four-year-old son (Emmett),” said Matthew Greeley, associate director of the diocesan Department of Youth, Marriage, and Family Life. 

Emmett joined the teens for the day and he got the message loud and clear that everyone can do their part.  The work was done quickly and efficiently, taking one more thing off the list to ensure that the camp would be ready for this year’s activities.

Matthew Greeley is associate director of the diocesan Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life.