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By Robert C. Metzinger
The Texas Catholic Staff
As an auger roared and ripped through the soil at Mount St. Michael Catholic School, volunteers from Mission Possible assembled a jungle gym for the students at the Dallas elementary school to enjoy once classes resume in the fall.
Under the heat of the midday sun, a group of volunteers from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Plano and All Saints Church in North Dallas collectively labored, smiled and prayed as one.
“Each day we start off with a prayer for the safety of everyone here,” said Norm Phillips, a 15-year veteran of the Mission Possible program, sponsored by the Diocese of Dallas Office of Youth and Young Adults.
Approximately 1,450 middle and high school students, plus youth leaders and parent volunteers throughout the diocese volunteered approximately 46,000 hours of service to the Mission Possible program this year.
A number of volunteers worked to help numerous agencies throughout the diocese such as Catholic Charities, schools, parishes, assisted living centers and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The volunteers also worked painting and sprucing up the homes of some private citizens referred by charitable agencies.
For a group of 13- and 14-year-old parishioners of All Saints, taking time off of their summer breaks to provide service to was something they didn’t think twice about.
“It’s just a good thing to do for people who need help,” said Ryan Head.
At 14, Head is already in his third summer of volunteering with the program, and believes that his example as a leader is evident. “For those in their first year, I think I can provide some leadership,” he said.
Phillips, who has been with the program since its inception, enjoys being a witness to the leadership transformation of the young volunteers.
“Ninety-nine percent of them want to be here; they want to work and chip in,” he said. “A lot of them will start the week not knowing anyone, and by the end of the week they are buddies. We pray that it is a good experience for them.”
Chris Vaughan, who graduated from the now-closed Mt. St. Michael High School in 1996, is part of transforming his alma mater — and for good reason. His son Isaac is now a student at Mount St. Michael.
“This place looks great,” Vaughan said. “I was a student (here) in 1981, and my son has Sister Mary Ann Tasker, the same teacher that I had.”
Vaughan, coordinator of Young Adult Ministry at All Saints, knows that the dedication and work of these young volunteers is a sign of good things to come.
“When we serve others and don’t think about ourselves, we see Christ working through us,” he said. “I see the work out here and know that the church is in good hands.”
As the final pieces of the jungle gym were put into place, and the brows of the volunteers were collectively wiped, a young helper thought it was a good “stopping place.”
“It’s a good starting place,” Vaughan replied.
rmetzinger@cathdal.org
(c) 2010 The Texas Catholic
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