The Tablet Staff
Joliet’s St. Margaret Mary Church in Naperville, Ill. came to Brooklyn in July to assist Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens.
The youth came as part of the Young Neighbors in Action program, which involves youth from across the country taking part in volunteer projects.
The Illinois youth gave of their time and talents to help paint parts of the church at St. Francis of Assisi/St. Blaise, Crown Heights as part of a larger project for Catholic Charities.
The space they painted will be used to distribute toys to the children of the community during Christmas. Helping the Illinois youth were members of the Crown Heights parish including altar server Rashaad Edwards and Msgr. Paul W. Jervis, pastor.
The Catholic Charities staff that helped out with the project and showed the teens around were Deacon Andrew Mastrangelo, Director of Parish and Community Relations John Gonzalez and Vice President for Mission Richard Slizeski.
The staff brought the teens to Prospect Park and went on a historical walking tour throughout Crown Heights. They were able to try local food in the neighborhood and learned firsthand about the community they’re making an impact in.
Contributing to this report was Michael Jude from Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens.
