The true test of a community is how it reacts in a crisis, and the recent wildfire emergency brought out the best in our young parishioners. The day evacuations began, our teen community was immediately linked -- via text messages, MySpace, and e-mail a chain was created through which they could check on one another and offer help and support when needed. Over the next several days, messages traveled through the airwaves: updates on evacuations, "where are you now?" inquiries, even assistance in finding a place to stay for a night or two (including opening their own homes to those who needed them). The most prevalent communication, however, was that of prayer. These teens sent prayers back and forth for each other, for the emergency personnel, and for everyone affected by the fires.
Several of our young people who were able to remain in the Escondido area volunteered at evacuation shelters and at the fire camp at Kit Carson Park. One young adult drove to the Del Mar shelter to offer aid to the thousands who were displaced there. The weekend following the fires, when it was safe enough for most to return home, our teens immediately offered to raise money and collect items for those who had lost homes and property. They have offered their own services to those in need of assistance in cleaning up the smoke and ash so that life can return to normal for these families.
I am proud of our young people. They have truly been Christ to one another and to the greater community in the past several weeks. May God bless them for their service.
~ Pia Kayo, Coordinator of Youth Ministry
