Middle School Summer Recap

Mission of Mercy

Each summer I look forward to our middle school summer mission experience. This year, in collaboration with a few other Directors of Formation, I was able to introduce a new middle school mission experience, Mission of Mercy. 

Our middle school youth came together with other local parishes to serve within our community. We worked with ten non-profit organizations between Waukesha and Milwaukee. Our theme this year was taken from the Gospel of John 13 where Jesus washes his disciple's feet. 

As I reflect on the week we spent together, my heart is drawn to John 13:15 "I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do." This is what I had the privilege of witnessing all week.

I am so very proud of the youth who participated in this mission. 

They packed over 13,000 pounds of food in one shift at Feeding America, cleaned and painted rooms and hallways to prepare for guests at the Hebron House, prepared and fed people at The Hope Center, served and provided friendship to those who live at The Milwaukee Catholic Home and Adult Day Center in South Milwaukee, and beautified Grant Park, just to name a few. 

They were Christ to those they served, and they witnessed Christ in the people they served. They served with joy on their faces and with their whole heart. Our missionaries also had opportunities at the end of each day to gather in faith sharing experiences like prayer stations where they prayed with the Rosary, art and Visio Divina. They embraced Reconciliation and participated in Adoration. 

After all that, we still had time to enjoy hanging out with each other and sharing our experiences while mini golfing, bowling, and hanging out at the park. I feel like I received the greatest spiritual gift through being a witness to the Holy Spirit working through our youth.

I am looking forward to planning for next summer!