by Antonina Zielinska

During World Youth Day in Madrid next month four young people from Sacred Heart Church, a worship site of Mary of Nazareth parish, Fort Greene, will continue their desires to grow closer to God.

The four college students: Omar Barragan, Maria Arteaga, Kelly Ortiz and Alejandro De Anda have been chosen to attend the pilgrimage as representatives of their church. Sister Eileen Neary, R.S.M., pastoral associate, said these four students were chosen because of their many years of service to the community.

“I saw how giving they were, some of them even from grammar school,” she said. “You call to ask them for something and they were willing.”

The students have volunteered in ministries such as helping in the homeless shelter, teaching religion, altar service, and singing in the choir. During the weeks before their trip to Madrid, the students are working with other counselors and Sister Eileen to conduct a summer program for the children in the immigrant community of Fort Greene.

“Around this neighborhood, it’s hard,” Arteaga said. “We’ve all been there. Our parents work hard and they can’t spend as much time with us as they would like.”

The counselor said she wants to help the children of the parish the same way a previous generation helped her.

“We try to keep them close to the Church,” she said. “I think we have to instill some morals into their daily lives. And I think that when they are here, they learn well.”

The counselors lead students in various sports, art and reading activities. However, the four students all said the most important aspect of the program is simply to spend time with the youngsters. All children in the neighborhood qualify to attend the program free of charge, regardless of their religion.

“I love the fact that you walk down the street and they come running toward you,” Ortiz said. “It shows you that you are making an impact in their lives.”

The younger children and their need of good role models is part of the reason why the students will be attending World Youth Day.

“My hope for them is that they go and pray with the youth of the world and that they see the faith of the youth of the world,” said Sister Eileen. “I hope their faith will increase by the example of the people around them and that they will be inspired and radiate to the young people here.”

Arteaga and Ortiz said they are eager to learn about the different way youth around the world pray and worship God.

“We’ll probably come back with a different state of mind,” De Anda said.

In order for these four young volunteers to reach Madrid the parishioners helped finance their trip. The students held fundraisers as well and received private donations.

Arteaga said she is grateful to Sister Eileen, Father Robert Vitaglione, administrator, and the parishioners for giving them this great opportunity.

“They were always proud of us and now they are happy to give us this opportunity to send us out,” Ortiz said.