The Catholic New World: Teens find faith, hope and challenge in ‘La Morita’

Michael Clark made a difference in the world. So did Allison Steffens and Ryan Flood. So, too, did other teenagers from St. Alphonsus Liguori (Prospect Heights) Genesis Youth Ministry who participated in a week-long service-learning experience in Tijuana, Mexico, earlier this year.

“The teen disciples pitched in and helped where needed,” said Cathy Walz, director of the parish’s Junior High Religious Education and High School Youth Ministry.

The teens from Genesis Youth Ministry “worked with the Oblate priests and brothers and lived at the major seminary for the Diocese of Tijuana with teens from other parts of the United States under the auspices of a Catholic group, Young Neighbors in Action (YNA),” said Walz.

The young people worked in the hills surrounding Tijuana, an area called La Morita, where people live in crude shelters made from lumber scraps and plastic tarps. “Nicer” homes consist of discarded U.S. garage doors. There is no drinking water, no bathrooms, sewer systems or running water for showers or laundry. Electricity is limited, often shared by several households in an area.

The teens helped build shelving and inventory supplies for the local hospital. They weeded, did general landscaping and cleaned up around the church. They painted a playground made out of old tires, a catechetical leader’s house and a community center, which provides a gathering place for the people to obtain food or receive classes in nutrition or parenting.

“These young people discovered the Mexican people don’t separate secular and spiritual life,” added Walz. “It was an incredibly powerful experience for them.”

The group, which also included Ania Kalbarczyk, Lara Driscoll, Jennelle Schmidt, Mark and Eric Huy, Alex Schmidt and Adrian Tapia, expressed similar thoughts about their experiences.

“It was really amazing to see even though the people had so little, they still had a strong faith God would carry them through,” said Steffens, a Hersey High School sophomore. “They were truly happy. It made us feel how blessed we are with what we have.”

Witnessing the impoverished conditions of the people and streets strewn with garbage made a lasting impression on Clark, also a Hersey sophomore. “You are outraged this happened and you become eager to help change what’s wrong in the world.”

The experience enabled Flood to more openly talk about God among his peers. “I know what confirmation is all about now,” he said.

“Everyone was so genuine and not afraid to talk about God unlike many American teens who don’t think it’s cool to talk religion,” added Flood, a St. Viator High School sophomore.

He said the teens “were crying some of the time because what we saw happening was so amazing. The trip was an incredibly touching experience.”

The idea for the service trip began more than a year ago when members of the Genesis Youth Ministry heard about some peers building a church in Mexico. They already had participated in many local service projects but wanted to do more. The teens approached Walz, who had conducted service-learning excursions to Mexico at another parish. She made a proposal and the teens began raising funds to cover expenses. The group sold subscriptions to The Catholic New World, which offered a discounted rate and then shared a portion of that money with the teens.

They held car washes and solicited donations from family, friends and parish members. Some used their own money. The teens even designed their own sweatshirts for the trip.

Despite the eagerness, not everyone was excited about the impending trip.

“Some of the parents were not keen on the idea at first,” said Flood. “Not all of us were sure either but now I’d go back in a heartbeat.”

Even Steve Huy, the group’s assistant director, had reservations.

“I thought I was going to get away with staying home,” said Huy, who wasn’t sure about taking a week off work. “But they needed a male chaperone so I went.”

His sons Eric and Mark also

went along.

Huy says the experience opened his eyes to many social justice issues. “I’ve traveled to 13 other countries but never been in such a poor country,” he said. “The people are just like us. Perhaps they are better than we. They have so little but they see life more clearly because they don’t have the interference of things like the Internet, video games and cable TV. God is more important in their lives.”

Steffens and her peers were struck by the faith of even the children.

“When we were painting the house, little girls came up to us and drew pictures on our hands of Jesus on the cross or write, ‘Jesus loves you,’ she said.

“The people were so grateful. They used some of their precious money to buy us Cokes. It made me realize I have to look for God more and listen more.”

Clark felt he and his peers made a difference.

“I thought it would be difficult spending a week away from home and communicating with people of a different language,” he said. “We used hand gestures when we didn’t know the [Spanish] words. I felt we made a difference even if we only did a small part of the work that needs to be done. The experience has brought members of our Genesis Youth Ministry closer together. I hope we go back next year!”