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service: catholic school students understand the meaning and the need

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Catholic high school students in the Diocese of Belleville have developed a tradition of service, especially for seniors when each of the three high schools — Althoff, Gibault and Mater Dei — send their seniors off campus for three weeks to offer service to others, even internationally.

While Althoff and Mater Dei seniors just finished their service projects, Gibault students will begin their three-week hiatus from school in mid-February.

However, service to others is not equated with senior status at a Catholic high school for students at Althoff and Mater Dei where each school has a chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society on campus.

At Mater Dei, 25 members are joined by others at the school for activities. With money from bake sales and other fund raising efforts, Mater Dei students help send students to high school in Guatemala.
They pray regularly and “always want to help others,” moderator, Judy Kampwerth said.

Ms. Kampwerth is raising awareness about organ donation with students. “They have to talk to their parents,” she said. “The purpose is to get people talking.”

John Bouc, campus minister at Althoff, has students signed up to prepare meals for the St. Vincent de Paul Mobile Kitchen for the rest of the school year.

Student teams not only prepare the meals but take them onto the bus to serve them to folks who might otherwise not have a hot meal and a warm place to sit down to eat.

Most recently, four sophomores took a turn on the soup bus — Karlye Keil, Paul Cefaratti, Maggie Cimarolli and Rebecca Zabawa.

While Mr. Bouc said the students usually prepare hot dogs and chips, this group made mostaccioli, rolls and fresh-baked cookies.

Admitting that none of the food was prepared “from scratch,” they did put the meals together and then went on the soup bus to serve the meals.

“When they ate, you could tell they needed the food,” Karlye said.

The students not only served the food but sat and talked with their guests.
“One guy talked with us,” Karlye said. “He was being straight with us, talking about life as it was.”
Paul found “a satisfaction” in serving others he didn’t expect. “It was a significant experience but I can’t put it into words,” he said. “It definitely has an effect on you.”

The impact transferred to other situations, with Karlye wondering if perhaps some of their classmates need help and other students “don’t even know.”

Althoff students take care of the soup bus three times a month, Mr. Bouc said, with other teachers going on the bus.
Money to purchase the food is raised at the school, he added.

Some of the Catholic elementary schools in the diocese also have St. Vincent de Paul conferences, including St. Clare in O’Fallon, Blessed Sacrament, St. Augustine and St. Teresa in Belleville, Holy Trinity in Fairview Heights and St. James in Millstadt.

Activities vary from school to school, but all provide service to the needy.

At St. Clare in O’Fallon fifth-graders have a conference with teacher, Donna Riley, in charge. Students visit a nursing home in Lebanon, making and taking crafts to residents, she said.

They raise money through various activities, Ms. Riley said. “They have a lot of energy for service.”
Eighth-graders are moderated by a parent, Michelle Laverdure. Her daughter, Brynn is an eighth-grader who likes “doing things for others.”

The group filled bags with candy for children who were dinner guests on the soup bus, among other activities.
At Holy Trinity, teacher Joan Kauling moderates the conference.
Principal, Marian Crosby said the school held a food drive and regularly collects items for the needy.
In the fall, the students collected coats, hats and gloves, and in the spring they will collect cleaning supplies, Ms. Crosby said.

At St. Augustine in Belleville, students from pre-school through eighth grade are considered members of their conference.

They can color, carry items that are being collected, or sort clothes that have been donated, a St. Augustine spokesperson said.

At Blessed Sacrament in Belleville, mainly fifth through eighth-graders take care of conference activities with teacher, Joan Kauling, moderating.

At St. Teresa, also in Belleville, teachers, Donna Klaus and Mary Sciarra, organize activities. Students regularly play Bingo with residents at Meredith Memorial Home.
At St. James in Millstadt, Pat Hogrebe, secretary of the diocesan St. Vincent de Paul council, has helped the school organize monthly activities.

The students collect supplies or may make place mats for Cosgrove’s Kitchen or the soup bus for example.
“Youth have a lot to offer,” Catholic Urban Programs director and St. Vincent de Paul council president, Joe Hubbard, said.
“They have a lot of energy, ideas and creativity,” he added.

Getting involved in service gives young people a chance to see and experience the lives of those in need in their own communities, he said.

Belonging to St. Vincent de Paul as a youth “lays a foundation and a vision of ministry of what the church should be doing,” he said.