Good afternoon. My name is Lizza Gedra. I’m a rising senior at South County and I am here today to tell you about my experience at WorkCamp this past week.
For those of you who don’t know about WorkCamp or how it worked this year, I’ll walk you through a little bit of the experience. Our crew members at Nativity combined with Holy Spirit Parish and since February we have been having bi-weekly meetings to prepare us for this week. Last Sunday we met for our team bonding day and were given our crews. My crew consisted of 6 teens and 2 adults. This was my first year doing WorkCamp and from the start I learned the motto of WorkCamp was “lean into it”. Throughout the week I slowly began to understand this phrase.
On Sunday meeting my crew they were quiet to say the least. As we began our bonding activities I was handed a makeshift trash bag poncho to put on and the rest of my crew was given a bottle of shaving cream and they were told to cover my hair with it. They weren’t shy long after that, especially when we then competed against the other crews to see who could throw the most cheese ball puffs onto their crew mates head of shaving cream (we got 121 for anyone wondering).
My point is that from the start the whole week had an emphasis on leaning into it and going out of your comfort zone.
Then the real week began. Each day our schedule consisted of going to 7:30 morning Mass at Nativity, eating breakfast all together before heading off to our various sites. We would then spend all day on site working and then leave in the evening and head to O’Connell High School for a program where tons of parishes in the Diocese all participating in WorkCamp would come together for dinner, games, have guest speakers, worship, and other events. This year we had the opportunity to go to sites locally within our own community. My crew was able to serve a resident and her home by landscaping her entire backyard. The work we did each day was challenging and demanding, but it was beautiful. My once quiet group became amazing friends of mine.
Each day I forgot that the tasks we were doing were even work because I grew to genuinely enjoy them. We laughed and joked as we mulched together, sang our hearts out as we painted a shed, and prayed together as we ate our lunches. Our work was also for something greater than ourselves and we all understood that. We were blessed to get to know our resident well, and hear some of her story and experiences, and I hope that each time she looks out at her yard, she is reminded of our love, and Jesus’s love for her.
It was so much more than landscaping and making friends though, and I struggled while writing this to encapsulate the full extent of what I got out of this week to you all, and while reflecting I realized what made all of it so incredible was encountering God.
I did not encounter God in a profound grand moment, but rather hundreds of tiny moments which made it all more impactful.
I encountered God in my adult leaders, Ms. Christine and Mr. Schneider, who not only taught us life skills like using a power washer but they were leaders who kept us motivated every day. My crewmates, knowing of my unhealthy fear of slugs, would remove any they saw so I wouldn’t have to be near them, but more than that I saw that they had my back and wanted the best for me. Through my resident who taught me that every person has a unique story and unique experiences and sometimes the greatest knowledge comes from listening. I encountered God through Deacon Peter, who not only shared his amazing story with all of us as a guest speaker at program, but made it a point to go to as many sites as he could every single day. He not only brought with him a boost of energy we often needed, but also worked alongside us, had truly appreciated conversations with me and others, and even blessed us enough to sing high school musical songs with us while we worked!
I encountered God through spending our final work day with two sisters from the Sisters of the Servants of the Lord Convent in DC. They were glowing with joy and I don’t think I ever stopped smiling when I was with them and they gave me a passion to attain even an ounce of that joy they carry with them. Most important of all, I encountered God on Tuesday night as Bishop Burbidge led us in Adoration, where I was able to pray and worship with hundreds of other teens, as we sat in the presence of Jesus Christ himself in the Eucharist.
I can easily say that this past week was one of the best of my life. On our last night tired and exhausted as we were, Ms. Brig had to still literally kick us out of the Nativity parking lot because as we said our tearful goodbyes to one another, we still didn’t want it to be over. I leave you with this.
Please, whether you are a teen or adult, consider if WorkCamp could be something for you in the future, and please continue to pray for the amazing residents, WorkCampers, and adults, so that we may take the lessons God brought us through this week, and implement those to our lives. Thank you and God bless.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
At first I thought that WorkCamp week was a week I wouldn’t like. I wasn’t even the one who signed up for it; my mom did. But after the first day of the week, I started looking forward to WorkCamp a little more each day. Not only had my crew and I had fun each day, but we had grown even closer and strengthened our relationships with each other and with God. I am deciding to join again next year!
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
This past week has been an incredible experience, unlike anything I could have imagined. Not only did I grow in my faith, but I also met some of the most caring people. I wasn’t particularly excited about WorkCamp at the start, but the week had flown by so quickly that I was sad it was already over. Despite the fact that our crew had only met just a week ago, it felt like I had known them for years. I was able to be myself around them, which is not easy for me. They assisted me in better understanding my faith and in seeing things from a different perspective.
I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve the community and the Lord. Honestly at first I was not looking forward to taking a week out of my summer to work, but I’m glad I did. So if you’re thinking about doing WorkCamp, but you’re not too sure, I definitely recommend it because I hope that everyone can experience what I experienced.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
This week I attended my first ever WorkCamp. When I go somewhere and do not know what to expect I tend to make a lot of expectations. One of the xpectations that I was hoping for is that I could create meaningful friendships and bonds. Looking back to Tuesday to me thinking that I had worked with my crew for more than 8 hours and yet we were somehow still shy strangers. To Friday night all of us in the parking lot saying goodbye to the same 12 people at least three times each because none of us wanted to step off the pavement and truly say goodbye, to each other and this experience.
It was this unconditional love and support for each other that was built through the Holy Spirit. My next hope was that I would have this revelation of my faith, that my doubts and fears would be expelled and I would be fully God’s. That did not happen, but He did show me that this experience is a piece of a much larger picture in my faith and that I may continue to struggle but he continues to build me up.
Thank you so much!!
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
Before WorkCamp, I can say that my faith wasn’t the best. I thought that church was boring and it was just a thing that I went to once a week. My mom signed me up for workcamp and I wasn’t the happiest. I knew mostly everyone in my group, but I never spoke to them, or really interacted with them. Now, it’s Friday and I wish I could go back again. I made many new friends, and stepped out of my comfort zone. I now want to attend as many daily Masses as I can this summer, and I want to grow in my faith better as a Catholic. Thank you for this amazing experience, and I look forward to doing this next year.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
The Most Wonderful, Crazy, Amazing Week (5 days?): I am getting excited, nervous, joyful, and a little sad by even thinking about this past week. This WorkCamp has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It not only brought me closer to my crewmates and my parish but so much closer to our Lord. One of the best feelings and understandings that came over me during WorkCamp was a feeling of contentment. A happy, serene, almost glowy feeling that made my heart and soul so joyful. The first time was during the daily Masses. I’ve wanted to be able to want to go to Mass, to make it “I want to go to Mass” not “I have to go to Mass.” I wasn’t bored or tired during the Homily, I wasn’t counting the minutes until we could leave. I was present with the Lord and the Eucharist. And I found myself wanting to come back.
The second time was while I was working (I was washing siding, (very inspiring I know). I asked myself “Is there anything that I’d really rather be doing right now”, and the answer in my heart was “No, what I am doing is serving the community, building relationships, and ultimately serving and glorifying God. So no, there isn’t anything I’d rather be doing.” The last and most meaningful example I want to share is during Adoration.
Now, I’ve done Adorations before. I can distinctly remember the first one I went to. I was bored, tired, and just wishing it would be over soon. But as I’ve grown and attended and participated in more Adorations, the Lord has helped me truly love the fullness of Adoration. I had come back from confession and was doing my penance when it really hit me. My Lord and my God were right there in front of me, He has forgiven my sins and He was right there. I will never understand the entirety of how much the Lord loves us and how close to us He really is, but at the moment His presence and Love were so there, so palpable to me. I was able to experience Adoration in a way that I hadn’t done before. I left feeling so light and again, content. This glowy happy feeling brought so much joy throughout my heart and soul.
Sometimes we need baby steps, sometimes we need to be thrown in, and sometimes we need to lean into it. Lean into our faith and let God lead us towards Him.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
WorkCamp was great! I was looking forward to helping those in my community. My faith is stronger after seeing what great work our group from Nativity could do for others. The opportunity to pray together as a parish community and to join groups from other parishes was fun and has pushed me to pray more and get to Mass more regularly—not just on Sunday!
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
This was my first time ever going on a WorkCamp trip, but I consider my journey to have started last year before COVID prevented last year’s trip to Oil City, Pennsylvania. Though I was very disappointed that the trip was cancelled, I was overjoyed that I would still get the opportunity to travel with my parish before I graduated in high school and missed my chance to ever go on one. The work that I put into this single week over months has been such a crazy thought to me, and even as I was van proofing Mr. Phil’s van in the sweltering heat, to painting the stairwell at George Mason University, to “Guardians of the Galaxy” soundtrack. I made a community with people that I knew very well, and those I have never met and will now never forget.
From the first day I stepped into our work site, our residents were full of welcoming and willingness to allow us to work in their building. And the most memorable moments was when the students and faculty would sit down and join us for lunch, even when we were covered in either paint or mud. This has also been the first week in a very long time that I’ve prayed the rosary everyday, went to Mass everyday, and prayed constantly every day. The powerful community that I felt as the five nativity members would pray the rosary in the back of Mr. Phil’s van on our way to get slurpees at 7-11 and Bishop O’Connell High School. I was able to talk to someone new everyday, and expand my own community while strengthening the one that I already had.
Taking care of others is the one thing I feel like I’m called to do, and I am sad over the fact that this week, and the time that I spent with everyone this week was so short. And perhaps the last time that I will see some of my community in person in a long time, or even ever. But I know that they won’t ever be gone, because of the bond that we shared. I know that I will continue to pray for them, and they will continue to pray for me no matter where I end up. And as I go off to my next adventure, the big wide world of college, I will continue to grow into the communities around me while keeping the old. Like the Girl Scout song that I would sing with my troop at the end of every meeting, “Make new friends, but keep the old” and “the circle is round it has no end, that’s how long I wish to be your friend.”
And I feel like I can connect that to something that Fr. Vaccaro said in his homily last Sunday, that even if we don’t have the chance to see each other again face-to-face, we will encounter each other through the Eucharist. And that was one of the biggest takeaways from WorkCamp, you make connections to your resident and your crew and on that last day goodbye isn’t really a goodbye, it’s a See you later. So I will pray that wherever I end up, where my crew ends up, or those I haven’t had the pleasure to meet, I will see them all in the work that we do within the community, through the prayer and the Eucharist we share.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
Before starting WorkCamp, I didn’t have high expectations. I wasn’t even sure signing up was a good idea because so much was going on this summer, but after doing WorkCamp I realized it was exactly what I needed. Workcamp helped show me how much service and faith could be connected and how much can happen when you combine them. It also helped show me how God can bring people closer together in a short amount of time. Workcamp was so much more than just a volunteer service project because of how much faith was incorporated through the daily Mass, devotionals, the people, the many prayers, and maybe my favorite time of Confession and Adoration.
Going to Confession, daily Mass and Adoration are always special times but especially this week, going to them after looking at my life and trying to find where I could let Christ into my life made it even more impactful. I was talking with one of the deacons and he was talking about how blessed we were that we were able to have Confession because he had done a similar WorkCamp program before with Christians who didn’t go to Confession and Catholics and how he noticed the difference after some were able to go to confession and have their sins absolved and they were re-energized in a sense.
Similarly, I realized how much I had been putting other things in front of God and being able to bring that to Confession and then being able to praise God in Adoration immediately after feeling the grace of reconciliation was probably the highlight of the week and helped me to keep going even when I was tired and feeling discouraged.
In Adoration, I remember kneeling in front of my Lord, my Friend, and genuinely feeling sad when the Bishop carried the Monstrance away. I was reminded of how important it is to simply just be in the presence of Christ and how life-changing spending time with Him can be.
Another big take-away from WorkCamp was how serving the Lord could bring people together so quickly. I was with my parish friends and I knew them, we were not strangers but not exactly best friends. However, on the last night, it was some of the hardest goodbyes I have ever had to say in my life and I’m a military child so I’ve had my share of goodbyes. Being able to go to Mass first thing in the morning and seeing my friends, being able to say the Our Father with them, being able to wish them peace, and being able to receive the Lord with them was incredible. Then we would go downstairs and eat breakfast together and pray together, like a family. We would go to our groups, with people who were purposely put together because we had never talked to each other and now they feel like my family because we were together.
Power-washing together, painting together, putting in bricks together and praying together helped us to come together. It is funny because on the first day, it was dead silent 90% of the day, but by the last day we were naming worms together. Boring work like weeding or mulching became fun with my friends there and knowing that I was helping someone and showing them Christ’s love together. Throughout the week at our worksites we were visited by our deacons, priests, sisters, and our WorkCamp leaders who helped us and showed us how much they cared about our projects, worksites, residents, and crews. At the end of the day, we would change, and go to program where we would meet up together as a parish. We would get there and play some games with our parish friends but I was surrounded by some of the most amazing people who genuinely cared about each other so much. Truly I feel blessed to have been able to work with such a loving group of people and throughout the week I learned how to better know and see Christ through them.
In the end, WorkCamp was an amazing week that I wish could have lasted longer because of the experience of family and feeling the love of God and His presence and then being able to show it to our resident and our crewmates.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
Workcamp was a great experience. At first I didn’t want to go because I didn’t know anybody in the parish and I thought I was going to hate it. But by the end of the week, I found myself having fun. The other teens in the parish were very kind and welcoming and made the experience fun. I grew closer to both the people in the parish and my work crew. I also enjoyed working on the work site and helping the resident. Workcamp was very fun and unique experience that I definitely won’t forget.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
My name is Carter Baumann and I am currently a rising senior at West Springfield High School. This last week was my third mission trip/retreat through Nativity and even though it was my third time going, I was still amazed at what I got out of it. Through the course of the week I was able to build relationships with individuals I would never have otherwise talked to, as well as strengthen current relationships with my peers. On WorkCamp I spent 28 hours doing free manual labor, yet I still feel like I owe more work considering what I got out of this week.
I will never forget my experiences and encounters with Christ through WorkCamp and I only wish that more people could have some of those same experiences that I had. The truth is, you can. By you I mean any member of Nativity Parish. Nativity offers over 50 different ministries for adults and over 20 different ministeries for those under 18, all of which are available to see on the Parish website. The truth is, you can share the same experiences Jenna and I had. You can witness Christ, you can make time for God outside of Sunday mornings, as many of you already do. Thank you for your time and please consider joining one of Nativity’s many ministries.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
This was my first real WorkCamp experience. In 2020, I was preparing to go to Oil City with Catholic Heart WorkCamp, but unfortunately, that got cancelled. After seeing Lex go through her mission experience, I knew I wanted to participate in that as soon as I could. So naturally, I jumped on the chance to go this year, even if the experience looked different than it might have in 2020. Preparing for camp, I was nervous at first because of the uncertainty surrounding the places we could work, the restrictions that would be in place, etc.. But as time went on and details got clearer, all I felt was excitement. I was looking forward to every WorkCamp meeting, excited to see how God would be present when I was gathered with my peers, learning about how we would be able to serve as children of God. My relationship with my fellow WorkCampers and Jesus was strengthened at each and every meeting.
The Sunday before WorkCamp began just confirmed my excitement and joy. Getting to meet my group, intermix with the kids from Holy Spirit and learn where we would serve was super special and I was ready to grow closer and create a community with my adults and peers. I chose to build a new porch on the grounds of the chapel because it was something I had never done before. It sounded really hands on, and that I was going to make a noticeable difference. Learning I was working at George Mason was conflicting because I was worried I was going to be missing out on the essential part of having a resident to connect with and learn more about. But I can assure you, I was mistaken.
Monday, when we first got to the site, I was filled with joy at seeing how beautiful the chapel was, and how much of a difference we could make in our work there. My porch crew consisted of me, Dillon, Eve and Matthew. It was a perfect mix of all our personalities, and we got to work right away. Connecting with my little crew by being in the heat together, the rain together and any other condition God threw at us just made us stronger. Listening to my crewmates stories, and how they connected to God was incredible. Having Dillon be our devotional leader was absolutely perfect and I can never thank God enough for placing him with my group. We prayed the rosary every day, and Dillon always had a special way of leading the prayers.
Bonding with my crew from Nativity on the way to the site, to and from program was essential in how my experience this week went. Our work was hard: tearing up the old porch, digging many holes, measuring and sawing wood, hammering and nailing and screwing in nails and drilling holes, all while out in the sun or rain. But I am positive God knew what He was doing when He put me on that job, because the things I learned, both physically and spiritually, made the week so worthwhile. Seeing our mostly completed porch on Thursday almost made me cry tears of joy, getting to look at the porch and say “Hey, I did that. God and I, we did that.” After work was done everyday, we got changed into comfy clothes for program and cleaned up ourselves and the work site. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we stopped at 7-Eleven for slurpees on the way to program (shoutout to Ms. Myranda and Mr. Phil!!). That was just another way to grow closer to my crew.
Program was the most incredible thing. Sharing our day’s experiences with other crews was so special, knowing we were making a difference in our community, together. We got to play Spikeball, 9 Square, cornhole and threw the frisbee around. I even got to have a conversation with the Bishop! Eating dinner together, poking fun at my peers and laughing harder than I have in a while showed me how strong our Nativity community was. When we all gathered in the auditorium for program, the love I felt in that room was the most tangible proof of God’s presence for me. It was unspeakable, the community I felt a part of, when we were all engaged listening to the speaker, when we worked together playing games and most especially, when we turned our eyes to Jesus during Adoration. I went to Confession for the first time in a long time on Tuesday and I felt the incredible relief that only Jesus could provide when I was absolved from my sins. It was an emotional time and some of my friends felt comfortable enough to share the most vulnerable parts of themselves with us and I just know that was the Holy Spirit working through them and creating a space safe enough for them to do so.
Thursday night, when we went back to Nativity, no one wanted to leave the parking lot. We formed such a beautiful community of people that saying goodbye was the hardest thing I had to do, despite having built an entire porch from nothing. I found it so special that even though I will see most of these people again, through Lifeteen and in general at church, none of us wanted to leave because it would mean that WorkCamp was over. I cried on the way home from Nativity, every emotion of this past week hit me hard. It was a mixture of joy, because I felt God so present in my soul, and sadness, because the week was over. It was a bittersweet night, and I am forever grateful that God bonded us so much that leaving was almost impossible.
Overall, this week changed my life and changed my relationship with God. I became so much stronger spiritually and I will let God continue to work through me and my works of service. I felt an outpouring of love through every interaction I had this week, from having the people at GMU address me by name, to the Bishop having a conversation with me. Jesus was so present and largely at work. This week did more for me than I ever thought was possible, and I am already looking forward to next year.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
This past week I was able to participate in WorkCamp 2021. At first, I was nervous. A lot has happened in my life during quarantine, and I didn’t know what to expect from this experience. However, I can now say wholeheartedly that this was the best experience I’ve ever had. Not only was I able to serve people in my community, but I was also able to meet some of the greatest, most loving people ever. The bond I now have with the amazing people I got to spend my week with is something I will never forget. I always felt supported and loved. As someone who finds it a little difficult to talk to people, I always knew that I was waking up to work with people who would always greet me with a smile and a hug. Besides the people, I also connected with God, praying and working for Him. I could feel His presence in everything I did and knew that I was making Him happy. To anyone thinking about doing WorkCamp next year, sign up. You’ll never know how much you’ll love it until you actually try it.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
This past week I had the most amazing opportunity to be the real-life hands and feet of God at the Dioceses of Arlington Workcamp. I find it difficult to put into words what a great experience hanging out with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ this week has been for me. To say this trip was life-changing is an understatement. Let me tell you about my work this week.
I was assigned to a group with 5 other teenagers and 2 adult leaders, and our mission was to complete many tasks in a local resident’s yard. Our theme this year was “lean into it”, and man did I ever. I’m not a big yard work person, but this week I became the most enthusiastic person you have ever met about mulch. Wow will I never get the smell of that out of my nose. Over the course of four days, my team and I completely transformed the back and front yard of our resident’s home. Bricks were laid, the painting was done, and power washing was completed. But I consider the manual labor to be about 1% of what I took away from this week. Growing in my faith was the other 99% of it. I’ve been a Catholic since I was 6 months old. Up until now when people ask me what it’s like to be a Catholic I always struggled to answer. “Yeah we go to church every Sunday” or “It’s that one religion with all the prayers” But coming out of this week, I know my faith is so much more. I was able to grow and change in the fellowship of 300 other high schoolers, and in that I truly found God.
At the end of each day, we would all pile into Bishop O’Connell High school where we all participated in a program. This hour and a half was filled with worship, games, and a small parish small group. I even got to have a real-life normal conversation with Bishop Burbidge. Guys he is one of the most chill guys I’ve ever met, let me tell you. One particular night stood out the most to me, and that was Tuesday night Adoration. Just being able to sit in the presence of our Savior for over an hour was completely indescribable. I felt so at peace with the fact that the guy who suffered and died for everyone in that room’s sins was 10 feet in front of me. I felt so at peace with the fact that not only did I want to be there, but He wanted to be with me even more. And that’s what really made me understand why I was there in the first place.
I signed up for this trip because everyone else was doing it. But in this past week, I learned there is so much more in me than just a teen who follows her parents to Mass every Sunday. I feel like I should be thanking someone for the most life-changing week of my life, and the only person I can think of is God himself. He knew what I needed when I had no clue. He knew that through my work of service and fellowship, I would find what the whole point of this all was. He knew that a random four days of my summer would make my life turn a complete 180. Thank you.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
WorkCamp is something that I had been wanting to do since last year, when it was cancelled due to COVID. The experience of not only the work, which helped the residents, but the fellowship and prayer, greatly deepened my faith. My site, which was in a trailer park, included lots of manual labor, and greatly touched our resident. I could see the Holy Spirit working through us, as many other trailer park residents began to ask for help and praise us for our hard work. I especially loved the program and the many other people I was able to meet there, from religious sisters to fellow high school students. Program reminds you why you are doing the work, to deepen your faith in Jesus Christ. As the devotion leader for my group, I had the chance to lead my fellow WorkCampers in prayer each morning and afternoon, which helped me come out of my shell and get to know my group better.
I am very thankful for having this opportunity and the opportunity to serve and learn. It has been a difficult few months after my Aunt was diagnosed with Leukemia, and this WorkCamp was marked on my calendar as a time where I could have some fun, and pray for my aunt. Coming out of it, it was one of the best experiences of my life, and I have much more confidence in my faith. I would like to thank especially our stakeholder Ms. Brig, who put lots of effort and love into this week.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
Why do WorkCamp? Over the course of the week, I have gotten to see hard work, dedication, concern, and utter friendship in everyone around me. Furthermore, I saw Christ in others though I was more struck by what everyone saw in me. Throughout this week, people have been sharing with me and others how I have impacted their lives, particularly their spiritual lives. They have shared how, before knowing me, they felt their faith was low and unengaged. But after knowing me they feel they have the desire, knowledge, and strength to dive deeper into the Faith.
So many people know my name, so many people crowd around me, so many want to talk to me … and because of WorkCamp I have realized why I seem so popular. It’s not that people want to be around me, but that they want the One they see in me. While I saw Christ in others, others saw Christ in me. They desire to know Him, to love Him, and to wholly imitate Him and remarkably, they see Him in me.
Why do WorkCamp? Because you will walk away seeing Christ in others and others having seen Christ in you. You will walk out with the eyes of Christ: loving, merciful, and just.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
Hi, my name is Jenna Fortunato. I’m a rising senior at South County and this is my 2nd official mission trip, COVID aside this would’ve been my third. I was born and raised a Catholic. I’ve been going to church every Sunday since I can remember, but I never understood the importance of having a relationship with God until I started going on mission. At WorkCamp we go to morning Mass, head to our worksites at 9:00 a.m. and help our selected residents until about 4:00. Then we would head to program for dinner, songs, games, Adoration, Confession, and reflection. We get home around 9-930 p.m., go to sleep, and repeat. It’s a long, tiring week but I have never once regretted doing it.
The misconception when prepping or hearing about WorkCamp is that that’s the extent of it. You work, you eat, you pray, repeat. But there’s so much more that goes into it, that catches everyone off-guard every. single. time. Everywhere we work, everything we do, is Jesus. The people we meet, the work we do, the residents we help show us that Jesus truly is everywhere.
This week I learned more about myself, my friends, and God than I ever thought possible in 4 days. Mass on Thursday was dedicated to St. John the Baptist and in the homily we learned about how we decrease so Jesus can increase. I thought about this a lot trying to understand it, and I realized that it doesn’t mean we are less important or less loved, it means that as we dedicate our lives to Jesus we are increasing him by giving our lives to him. This honestly could not be a better representation of what this week was; through building relationships, going to Mass, and fulfilling acts of service, we are giving ourselves to Jesus so He can give us the strength and courage we need to continue living for Him. Choosing to spend a week of your summer doing community service without your phone doesn’t sound very appealing to a lot of teenagers, but it ended up being the best week of some of our lives and we are not only stronger individually, but together because of it, because we chose Jesus.
Going on a mission trip is that leap of faith that you hear so much about in church. You’re answering God’s calling. I was talking to a member of the Catholic Campus Ministry at George Mason and as she put it, “God is waiting to give you a bear hug, you just have to take that leap of faith so he can catch you and never let you go.” Mission trip was my leap of faith, I hope you hear that calling from God, and take your leap too.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
Before WorkCamp started, I was very shy and unwilling to even try to step out of my comfort zone and make friends. However, once we found out one of the themes for the week was, “Lean Into It”, I knew that this was a sign for me to “lean into it” and do something that I was uncomfortable with.
At the beginning of the week, I made the leap and connected with some of the people at my work site. I asked for their help to push me and they were all more than happy to. They introduced me to people outside of our work site as well as included me in their conversations and helped teach me that sometimes it’s ok to be uncomfortable. With the help of lots of prayer and the people around me, I successfully expanded my social comfort zone and made some amazing friends.
Lizza Gedra • Avila Ang • Natalia Dignan • CeCe Kramlich • Nico Dignan • Maddie Chambers • Ava Gloninger • Kat Morgan • Samantha Chambers • Lorenzo Viani • Carter Baumann • Megan Smith • Angie Rodriguez • Lex Smith • Kyle LaJoye • Dillon Price • Jenna Fortunato • Catherine Birden
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