By Dan Sullivan
Catholic Herald
Youth prepare for first mission trip
HAUGEN -- In her normal job Abbie Daigle serves as media specialists for the Diocese of Superior Bishop Hammes Center for Religious Education and Youth Ministry in Haugen.
However, from July 17-24 Daigle, 16 youths and five adults from the diocese are going on the first ever diocesan sponsored mission trip. The group will travel from Haugen to Omaha, Neb.
At this point Daigle is uncertain of the tasks the group will perform while in Nebraska. "We haven't been assigned yet," Daigle said. "It could include working in a homeless shelter or doing building repair. We will assist wherever local agencies need help."
The group is working with the program called Young Neighbors in Action, based in Naugatuck, Conn.
Daigle said she was interested in the social justice component of the venture. Since other staff members at the Hammes Center already had busy schedules, Daigle decided to take charge of organizing the trip.
"A lot of parishes don't have full-time youth ministers and I wanted youth to have this experience," she said. "It's really important for young people to see life beyond the border of the diocese and show that they can make a difference in peoples lives."
Participants are coming from parishes in Medford, Rib Lake, Hurley and Land O'Lakes.
This experience is not the first mission trip for Ruth Cullen. The 17- year-old, who is a member of St. John Parish in Rib Lake, has extended a helping hand before. "I have helped at a soup kitchen in the Twin Cities," Cullen said. "I have been around things like this before. The opportunity was presented to me and it will be a good experience."
The trip will be the first of its kind for Michael Thomas, 15, a parishioner of St. Mary of the Seven Dolors in Hurley. Thomas said he heard about the trip at church and decided to pitch in. "They needed people to go and I volunteered," Thomas said. "I wanted to help out."
Young Neighbors in Action was selected because of its Catholic social teaching component. This group, which strives to make the world a better place, is part of the Center for Ministry Development, also based in Naugatuck, Conn., which develops youth ministry training and other resources for parishes.
While in Nebraska, the diocesan youth will not only see first hand the needs that exist in this area, but will be asked to look at the structures and systems that have created those needs and be advocates for change.
According to its Internet site, Young Neighbors in Action is assisting at 16 sites in United States, Canada and Tijuana, Mexico.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2004