"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12.
In Camden, New Jersey, 40 percent of people live below the national poverty line, 20 percent of people do not have health insurance, and 30 percent of the population uses some form of intravenous drugs.
On Feb. 2-5, thirteen Bishop O'Connell students and two teachers visited the heart of North Camden at the DeSales Service Works operated by the Oblates of St. Francis DeSales. The group spent Friday morning making and handing out sandwiches at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception's sandwich ministry. Any local can walk up to the window and receive up to three free meals; during the two hours they manned sandwich ministry, 300 meals were given out. Serving at the distribution window, interacting with the people of Camden, was extremely rewarding.
Senior Lucie Drahozal commented on the sandwich ministry: "Being able to see the hope in their eyes and attitude towards everything had a profound effect on me."
Later in the day, the group visited Holy Name School, the local Catholic elementary school. At Holy Name, the group helped with recess and with after school care. Here the interaction was different; just like in Northern Virginia, these kids have the same hopes and dreams as any other kids. In that moment, there were no reminders of Camden, it was just another school. However, if the statistics remain true, only 40 percent of the kids will receive a high school diploma and only 8 percent will graduate from college. Those numbers were sobering for the O'Connell students. They were reminded that the goal of the weekend was not to leave feeling guilty, but rather to reflect on their own life circumstances; it's how they use these that matters.
The evening mood changed from cheerful middle schoolers to recovering alcoholics and addicts. Fr. Mike McCue OSFS, director of DeSales Service Works, took five students to the local alcoholics anonymous and narcotics anonymous (AA/NA) meeting at the Last Stop. For many, the AA/NA meeting was the highlight of their trip. One attendee was a man named Rick, a four-years-sober, recovering alcoholic and a volunteer of DeSales Service Works. He later joined the O'Connell group back at the retreat house to lead the nightly reflection. The excerpt used to reflect that night was, "Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life'" (John 8:12). In turn, the group explained what this verse meant to them and how it related to the work they were doing in Camden.
"Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves." Solomon 1:15
On the second day, Father Mike used this scripture quote to explain the "broken window theory." When the area you live in is tidy and more beautiful, it can raise people up in a small yet profound manner. People begin to take pride in where they live.
That morning, the O'Connell group grabbed rakes, shovels, bags, and gloves cleaning a city block, the local park, and the recess area for Holy Name School. Enough trash was collected to fill at least twenty large trash bags. Even though it seemed a miniscule and inconsequential step in the large scheme of things, this act was extremely meaningful according to Father Mike.
"I really didn't get the point of what we were doing there in Camden until the moment when we were cleaning. We were shoveling trash off the street and a man was stopping at a stop sign and just began to smile and clap his hands. Then I understood," said Junior Dominic Rosenthal. What was done there truly gave these people hope, maybe in a small way, but some hope nonetheless.
If Camden, New Jersey is the city of hope, Father Mike is the man of hope, or at least brings much of it to the people of Camden. Without a leader like him, much of the progress that has been made improving people's lives would not have been possible.
"Spending the entire weekend in his presence, I noticed I have never in my life seen a more respected person. When I was walking around Camden I was simply honored to be in his presence," commented junior, Wyatt O'Donnell .
No matter where the group went, Father Mike knew every local, and the greeting he gave was profound. Just in seeing the way people would talk to him on the street, you could truly see the hope he brought people. When the group of O'Connell students were cleaning the trash off the street, he grabbed a rake. This simple example of a priest serving others as Jesus would have sums the weekend up perfectly: to humble yourself to serve others so that you may come to a deeper faith and experience Christ face-to-face.
- Story by Joe Kamal '18