(Matt Scarallo assists in creating footings for the deck above)On August 8, Cody Abbey, Joseph Crapotta, Luke Homer, James Kovar, Edward Parisi, Charles Pileggi, Troy Sampson, Matthew Scarallo, Bro. Peter and Fr. James began a one-week service project with Nazareth Farm in West Virginia. The group joined groups from Syracuse (NY), Centerport (NY), and Glenn Ellyn (Illinois), to perform home repairs in Doddridge County, West Virginia.
(Bro. Peter tarvels to his next work site above)
During the week, students and chaperones lived in community with the staff of Nazareth Farm as they learned about the Four Cornerstones of Prayer, Service, Simplicity and Community. Students led morning and evening prayer experiences and throughout the day, each activity was begun with a prayer. Mass was celebrated on Monday and on Friday (for the Solemnity of the Assumption.)
(Luke Homer sees fixing a roof takes hard work, but sweat and determination is also involved.)
Each day work crews consisting of students and chaperones from each of the different volunteer groups went off in different directions to work. Projects included painting a house; replacing two roofs, installing two decks on a trailer home, and various chores around the farm. The students also learned much about proper stewardship of God’s creation through conservation of food, water, and electricity.
(Father James assists in gardening above)
All lived simply during the week, using outdoor “bucket showers” and fasting from TV, IPODS, phones, etc. Chaminade’s group stopped at Baltimore on the way down and Philadelphia on the way back. They returned to Chaminade on August 16, fatigued but satisfied with a profound experience of prayer, simplicity, community and service.
(Eddie Parisi recognizes that climbing a ladder is all in a day's work)
