From June 28 – July 3, ten students from Albertus Magnus High School, accompanied by Mrs. Maureen Costello and Sr. Diane McSherry, participated in Summer Outreach Week (SOW), a summer service experience organized by Capuchin Family Ministries. They were part of a group of sixty-five volunteers who worked alongside each other in various ministries to serve those in need in the Hudson Valley. The ministries included building beds for children, visiting the elderly and sick in local nursing homes, engaging with and feeding our needy brothers and sisters, and working with children at Vacation Bible School.
The homebase for the group was the Mt. Alvernia Retreat House in Wappingers Falls, New York where volunteers enjoyed meals at breakfast and dinner and rested each night. Each day began with Morning Prayer and concluded with Night Prayer, led by the adult mentors, and assisted by the students. The participants spent six hours each day at the various ministry sites, returning in time for 4:00 Mass. In the evenings, the volunteers met in small groups for reflection and to share how they discovered the presence of God during the day. There was also time for recreation each day which further developed a sense of community among the participants.
The Albertus students who participated in Summer Outreach Week met like-minded peers who shared their desire for service. They developed camaraderie as they worked together in a shared mission. They were pleased that their efforts positively impacted the lives of the people they served.
The students supported each other in their faith journey through their experiences of daily communal prayer, participation at Mass, and engagement in small theological reflection groups with their peers and mentors. The Summer Outreach Week - SOW – enabled the participants, both students and adults, to sow seeds of faith through their experiences of prayer, study, community, and service.
The students from Albertus Magnus High School and the Capuchin Friars are grateful to the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill for their financial support of the Summer Outreach Week experience.
Below are some comments from some of the Albertus students who participated in SOW:
“I enjoyed volunteering at the nursing home. Seeing the joy on the residents’ faces just from simple conversation reminded me how important it is to show kindness and to be there for others through presence. Participating in the Summer Outreach Week reminded me how important it is to serve others.” Soraya Miller ‘27
“I took part in the outreach street ministry. It was an eye-opening experience seeing how the less-fortunate lived. I felt fulfilled knowing that I was able to help people in need.” Isabel Parra ‘26
“Throughout the SOW experience, I felt that I was able to live all four Dominican pillars: Prayer - participating in communal prayer and theological reflection; Study - learning about the challenges faced by homeless and less-fortunate people; Community and Service – directly helping those in need on the streets of Newburgh and Poughkeepsie by giving them food, water, and clothing.” Jessica Parra ‘28