Southern Nebraska Register
Students from two regions of the diocese took part in a mission trip to Denver together, to serve with the “Christ in the City” mission June 1-7.
Four students from St. Cecilia High School in Hastings and 10 students from St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Seward – communities 90 miles apart – traveled together for the joint mission.
Beth Nemec, coordinator of youth and adult spiritual formation at St. Vincent, said a couple of Seward Godparent groups participated in Christ in the City missions in Denver over the years. With her own prior experience of taking a group to Christ in the City and other service to the poor in Denver, she said she was happy when Msgr. Robert Tucker, pastor, indicated he would like the mission to be an annual event.
The parishes decided to coordinate the trip together, “having the passion for the mission,” Nemec said. “We have seen a value in collaborating with other communities,” and teaming with Sister Xavier from St. Cecilia High School and Father Scott Nemec — Beth’s son and assistant pastor at St. Cecilia — “was easy and fun,” she said.
The mission of Christ in the City is to form young Catholic missionaries. The young adult missionaries live in a common house, sharing a life of prayer, service, simplicity, and accountability. Drawing from that as their foundation, they are able to go out and bring the love of Christ to the homeless in the streets. The Nebraskans joined in that effort.
Maria Kavan, a chaperone from Hastings, said she was “impressed by the bravery of the youth on this trip and how they are willing and want to interact with the homeless and seeing how unafraid they are to bring Christ to strangers.”
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Courtesy photos
Each day of the mission, the participants begin with Mass and a holy hour “to first receive what we are to give,” Beth Nemec explained.
“We had homilies that help students look outside of themselves and develop a desire to give selflessly to the poor and others in their lives.”
Students and chaperones alike were taught about the causes of homelessness, ways to interact and love the homeless in a way of friendship, giving them dignity while serving them. Activities included making and serving meals, and visiting with the people they encountered. At one of the poorest nursing homes in the city, they talked, and sang songs with the residents.
Tessa Greisen of Seward, a freshman at the University of Nebraska Kearney, said the experience opened her heart to the possibility of being a missionary.
“Christ in the City missionaries provided me with a whole new outlook on how to be a disciple of Christ,” she said. “I’m grateful for the graces this trip provided, and the beautiful memories made.”
Each evening, the group gathered to share “consolations and desolations” of the day.
“Each student and adult had someone’s story to tell of a homeless person who was lit up by the love and encounter that they had, knowing we were a church group, sharing Jesus in our own little way that was simply listening to them and making eye contact,” Nemec said.
Nemec added that occasionally, passersby would see the teens, with a priest and a sister, and ask “who we are with and what we are doing.”
Their responses, she said, were, “wow, that’s great, thank you!’”
Msgr. Tucker also recalled the many people who shared compliments in admiration of this work for the poor in the city.
“The reality is that we receive much more than we give!” he told parishioners in a letter about the mission. “This is more of a retreat than a work of service.”
Matthew Mousel of Juniata, a senior, called the trip amazing.
“If you truly put effort into this trip and offer it up to the Lord, I truly believe it helps you better discern the voice of the Lord, and better know and understand how he wants you to serve him and better know him on a personal level.”
The final two days of the trip included adventures in the Keystone area, hiking, praying and having fun together.
“This trip is not an easy one for students or chaperones,” Nemec said. “It has been a challenge for all as tiredness sets in. It is in the challenges that we grow and learn to dig deeper within ourselves. In the digging deeper,” she continued, “we can find Jesus.”
Msgr. Tucker encouraged parishioners to consider making the trip themselves.
“We will be doing this again next year so start thinking about it,” he said. “The experience is a life changer, and possibly a life saver!”
