Victoria Wilson April 26, 2017

SERVING OTHERS PROJECT

Mission Trip to Logan, WV | Learn to Skate | St. Joseph House of Hospitality

Prayer at MT
Mission Trip to Logan, West
Virginia was gored to helping
the people there. Not only did
the missionaries give service to
the community but also had the
opportunity to develop prayer
life. Throughout the work week
the teens had the ability to
reflect and explore faith, and
what it means to them.

Service
While in Logan, the missionaries Summer Mission Trip 2017
completed service such as Butler- Through the summer teens throughout the world traveled
working at the SportsWorks, to the small mining town of Logan, which once was a thriving
babysitting, putting up drywall, area in the region. Holy Sepulcher Catholic Church and Saint
painting, and cleaning a local
John Newman arrived in Logan driving through the small town,
school and church. Groups
and finally stopping at New Covenant Church, on the hill. The
were split up according to
experience and the teens teens slept on the church grounds and had various work jobs
performed tasks to the best of throughout the week. Victoria Wilson a resident of Butler,
there abilities. Pennsylvania, worked on grounds at the gym building community
between the teens of Logan and missionaries through the
Lasting Friendships SportsWorks Program. Wilson remarks,Logan was a wonderful
experience, I would not have given it up for the world. Walking
Holy Sepulcher and Saint John
into camp everyday and seeing the smiling faces of the teens
Newman are two Catholic
Parishes located in the Western
part of Pennsylvania. Although
so close not many of the teens
knew each other. On Mission
Trip the groups were all split
and teens from both parishes
were grouped together.
Working together created a
lasting bond between the
missionaries that there is still
today. 1
Victoria Wilson April 26, 2017

helped me to realize how fortunate I am to have the family I have.

The teen also tells us of her job in Logan,While there (Logan) my
group was assigned the SportsWork Camp. Day to Day we would
clean the gym, pray, and welcome the kids. Most of the days would
be spent playing pick-up basketball games and cards. This
experience was not just emotionally beneficial but it also gave a
deeper religious perspective. The groups were brought closer to
God through prayer and reflection as well. The feed back of the
Saint Joseph House overall missionary work was of such a positive and uplifting
of Hospitality experience.

Cranberry Township- Students

of Cardinal Wuerl North
Learn to Skate
Catholic served the men of the Cranberry Twp.-UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex is the new home
Saint Josephs House in practice rink for the Pittsburgh Penguins. It is also home to the
Pittsburgh. Learn to Skate Program. People of all ages participate in this
program in order to learn the fundamentals of ice skating. Every
The Saint Joseph House is
Thursday and Saturday skaters are welcomed onto the ice with the
located in the city of Pittsburgh
smiling faces of coaches, trained in the proper use and technique
near PPG Paints Ice hockey
arena. Teenagers of Cardinal required to instruct. Victoria Wilson, a LTS coach talked to us
Wuerl North Catholic aided the about her experience in the program,I love being involved in such
men of the Saint Joseph house a wonderful program. Being an ice hockey player myself I really
by cooking dinner, cleaning, enjoy being able to encourage and help the kids to grow and
and spending time and develop in this skill. She also reflects on what a positive
conversing. experience coaching is and the day to day process of the program.
The most memorable part of Learn to Skate starts of everyday setting up cones and welcoming
the service was after eating the kids on the ice after a demonstration of the proper way to fall.
dinner with the men. My mom After everyone is on the ice groups are split up due to skill level.
and I went outside with a few of Coaches go over the lesson plan and the group practices skills. So
the men and just conversed. far the program has thrived and will be hosting many more sessions
While talking, a red for came to come.
out of the bushes. We are in
the middle of Pittsburgh and
the guys we are chatting with
run inside to tell the others. In
a way, I saw the inner kid come
out and there was pure joy. No
matter what there circumstance
these men were happy to talk
with us and to see a red fox.
The smallest thing such as
conversation had a lasting
impact on everyone present.