By Rose O’Connor |Correspondent

“I have always said teens have big hearts, “ Susan Dowiak, youth minister in Our  Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown, said. “They just need to know where to put them.”

Those big hearts were certainly evident as almost 100 teens from all four counties of the Diocese and beyond put their faith in to action during Splash, an overnight service retreat for students in grades eight through 12.

Sponsored by the diocesan Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life and hosted by Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach, the annual offering is a favorite of the teens and youth ministers alike.

This year, the teens in the Diocese also participated in “Mission: Mercy” in Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park, July 30.

As Kelly McCormack, assistant in the Department of Youth, Marriage and Family LIfe, explained, “Mission Mercy is a one day interactive camp with different stations.  All of the activities are faith- based and incorporate the spiritual and corporal works of mercy as well as the themes of Catholic social teaching.  The kids are going to be secret agents and carrying out Christ’s mission of mercy.”

Those agents, young parishioners in grades first through eight from Mother of Mercy Parish, were thrilled to spend the day playing and praying with the teens.

The theme, which corresponds with the upcoming Year of Mercy announced by Pope Francis, allowed the teens “to bring an element of fun with Catholic Social Teachings and show the kids how to be a witness to God’s mercy,” McCormack shared. “The teens really took ownership of this.”

Prior to Mission Mercy, the teens and their youth ministers spent a day in Precious Blood Parish where they gathered together for a day of faith and fun, getting to know one another and celebrating Mass on the beach with pastor, Father Robert Kaeding July 29.

Precious Blood Parish youth minister Kimberly Williams said that Precious Blood is happy to host the two-day retreat and have parishioners help with providing the meals and lodging for the teens.

“SPLASH keeps getting better and better,” she said enthusiastically. “The kids absolutely love it and our parish embraces it.  Father Bob celebrated a beautiful mass on the beach and it’s great that our parish community and the community-at-large witness the teens living out there faith by attending Mass.” “The community members even joined us for Mass!” exclaimed Williams.

Following Mass, the teens set out to add finishing touches on their projects and presentations, working diligently to create activities and projects that intricately connected the theme of mercy.  They were eager to work with the children of Mother of Mercy Parish, a community of faith in which many of the teens had visited the previous year for SPLASH 2014, where they worked hard to paint the school gym and additional facilities.

Their commitment to creating a meaningful  and faith-filled experience for their “secret agents” was realized as the young children danced, cheered and were enthusiastic to “accept the mission” to become “witnesses of Christ’s mercy to all God’s children,” as  McCormack welcomed them to “Mission: Mercy.”

Tony Garcia, 16, from St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, was part of the core team who helped organize the day for the children.

“I hope they get closer connected to Jesus, become aware of his presence and grace.  Above all, I hope they have fun and a better understanding of God’s mercy,” said Garcia.

The smiles on the faces of their children spoke volumes as they made cards to be included in food donation baskets, or became witnesses to Christ’s mercy by adding their fingerprints to a cross they painted, and by creating dramatic skits which reflected works of mercy. 

“This is the part they look forward to,” Jay Keesler, youth coordinator from St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, shared as he surveyed the teens engaged with children in their stations. “The service component is what brings teens here.”

While the day was certainly memorable for those “secret agents of mercy,” it was also an important day for the teens and the future of the Church as well.

Shea Blake, 17, from St. Martha Parish, Point Pleasant, enjoyed her second year at the seaside retreat and “loved meeting everyone and working with a greet group of kids.” She offered, “It is great to come together and just get closer to Jesus.”

Barbara Kaminska, 15, from St. St. Paul Parish, Princeton, echoed similar sentiments as she worked to prepare snacks for the campers.

“I just wanted to be with other kids and create better bonds with them and with God.  It’s a nice feeling helping others,” said Kaminska.

Abby Woodcock, 16, also from St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, succinctly summarized what many of the teens at SPLASH shared about this faith experience.

“It is really great. I really like giving back and becoming stronger in my own faith,” she acknowledged. “For all of us to come together in faith is really beautiful.”

Whether they were making cards, playing team-building games or praying Pope Francis’ Five Finger Prayer, the children from Mother of Mercy Parish truly became agents of mercy and had lots of fun along the way.

“I can’t decide which I liked best, “third grade student, Lenzee, who was excited to come to “Mission: Mercy” with her cousin, thought., “Everything, I guess” and then stated with conviction, “Yeah definitely everything!”

Fifth grade special agent, Stephani, was glad she came to “Mission: Mercy” because “I am with my friends and learning about mercy and being merciful.”

Her classmate and fellow agent in training, Bryan, agreed, as he took a break from painting. “I like painting and learning about God because God is awesome!”

 To see photo galleries on this story, click here and here.

See related stories:
-- Young parishioners from St. Ann help out in Trenton. Click here.
--Parish youth participate in Catholic Work Heart Camp. Click here.