June 3, 2009

Support your local teen missioners

By Christopher Stefanick

When I was a youth minister in Los Angeles, I regularly took my group two hours south to the Third World slums of Tijuana.  We’d take two vans full of teens, food and clothing, and work with the Missionaries of Charity to hand out our gifts.  As we pulled our vans into a neighborhood full of homemade houses consisting of pallets, walls of bed frames with sheets tied to them and tarp ceilings, a line of people over an hour long would form within minutes. 

More than food and clothing, many of the people just wanted our company.  We spent time with them, played with their children, and gave out a few toys that brightened their day. 

Although we went to triumphantly bring the kingdom of heaven to the poor, we always left there feeling like we had spent the day in that kingdom.  We left there having ministered to ourselves.  As a member of the “my way, right away” generation, it is hard not to be impacted by a people with such a small amount of “stuff” but such an abundance of joy. 

I remember seeing some 3- to 5-year-old children playing with rocks, sticks, dirt and broken glass from a car window.  They had no toys but they were all smiles (…then again, my own kids always seem like they are having the most fun when I catch them playing with dangerous objects or in the dirt.  Hmmm…).   Those smiling faces are etched in my memory, as are the glowing faces of LA teens experiencing the thrill of wielding their God-given power to do good.  One of them, who was in my RCIA for teens class, told me at the end of a hard day of work, “That was the best thing I’ve ever done in my whole life.”

One “poor” man in particular left an indelible mark on my memory.  His name, ironically, was Jesús (a common name in Mexico), and for me he was just that.  He invited me into his home.  He was extremely proud of it.  He had built it himself out of pallets and tarp.  It was about the size of my bedroom.  His dirt floor was swept clean. 

Clothes were clean and neatly folded on a shelf.  He introduced me to his two sons who he called his gorditos (little fat ones).  Their clothes were unwrinkled and their hair neatly combed.  He showed me a bench seat from a van he had outside on his “porch” and told me about the beautiful view of the moon he has from there.  Jesús was so proud of the little he had.  He had worked hard for it.  In our 15 minutes together I could feel his passion for life, his love for his family and his spirit of gratitude.  I had met Jesus (the God) that day, and he taught me the most powerful lesson in gratitude through Jesús (the Mexican) that I’ve ever learned. 

Jesus is present with, in and through the poor in a profound way.  Matthew 25, the “cheat sheet” for our FINAL exam talks all about this.  This summer, youth ministers from the Archdiocese of Denver will be helping teens prepare for their final exam, and bringing them to meet Jesus in the poor in Nicaragua, Peru, Uganda, Indian reservations in New Mexico, places still in need of reconstruction after Katrina, downtown Denver, and several cities across the U.S.  Let’s send them with our prayers, praise and—if there’s a fundraiser at your parish—financial support!  The week or two they spend on that mission trip might be one of the most profound things they ever experience. 

Christopher Stefanick is the director of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry Office for the Archdiocese of Denver as well as a speaker and author.  For more information visit chris-stefanick.com.