Saint Joseph the Worker Parish youth group's service project benefits women's shelter

Friday, Dec. 23, 2016

WEST JORDAN — Instead of having a holiday celebration for themselves, the participants of the youth group at Saint Joseph the Worker Parish in West Jordan decided to do a service project.

“I was shocked that teenage kids decided to give up a party in order to do a service project,” Said Melissa Castellanos, the parish’s youth ministry coordinator, adding that she was impressed and moved when she heard of the youths’ decision.

Bailey, who is 13 years old, suggested that the youth group help battered women, and in a split second the rest of the group agreed, Castellano said.

“She said, ‘I think we should do a project for the Battered Women’s Shelter, they often leave their homes in an emergency and take nothing with them. What if we donated purses? Every woman feels more dignified when they have a nice purse,’” said Castellano, who called the YWCA and asked if the youth group could donate purses to the women there. 

Once they received the go-ahead, the youth group collected 40 purses filled with hygiene products, lip balm, tissues, emery boards, nail polish and feminine products, among other items, to donate.

Each purse also contained a handwritten note with messages such as “You are stronger than you think,” “We are praying for you,” and “You are loved.”

“We had about 15 to 20 kids that came, and each one was responsible for two to three purses,” said Castellano.

Through an assembly line each youth made sure the purses had what they needed, and that each one had a written note.

“I shed some tears. … Seeing and hearing them – how they were saying that that meant a lot for them and that they were excited to be able to do it. … To see how excited they were that they were going to be able to help 40 women was very humbling,” Castellano said. 

Because the women who received the purses live in shelter and have to have privacy, the youth couldn’t personally deliver the purses to them. Instead, Castellano met a worker from the shelter at a secure location to pass on the purses.

“I pray that we have lightened the load of 40 women who have been through so much, and given them hope and strength to help them continue their journey, knowing that there are strangers out there, kids, who are thinking and praying for them,” Castellano said.

Saint Joseph the Worker youth group is compromised of boys and girls between 12 to 17 years old. 

 “We are really lucky to have them,” said Castellano, adding that usually teenagers are too busy and sometimes self-centered, and “we are very lucky that this group is so kind and willing to do for others.”

Junuee Castro, director of the Diocese of Salt Lake City Youth and Young Adult Ministry, said the youth group’s project is a good example of responding to  Christ’s teaching.

“As baptized Catholics, we are all called to look out and care for others. This girl [Bailey], for example, taking the initiative of suggesting the project is a great example for all. ... We are all invited to care and look for the well-being of all our brothers and sisters.

 YWCA Utah serves more than 11,000 people annually and about 1,000 reside at the YWCA each year.

In January, the St. Joseph the Worker youth group has chosen to do another service project; this time it will benefit veterans.