Immersion Ministry challenges us to step out of our comfort zone to accompany people on the margins and to critically engage with the social injustices facing those in most need – and allows us to be radically transformed in the process. While our Immersion Missions will last one weekend, the knowledge that we gain and the growth we experience will last long after. It radically expands our efforts to work towards justice and nurtures our faith and prayer life. It helps us to firsthand understand the Word of God that instructs us, time and time again, to serve ‘the least of these’. It is life changing for those we serve and those of us who work with, and beside one another in the love of God.
Our Mission trip dates to Appalachia:
Wayne County Work Camp will take place June 10-17, 2023
Appalachia Christmas Mission will take place December 14-17 2023
Read more and donate to our summer mission.
Information on Summer Work Camp:
Social Ministry extends an invitation to you to participate in our Appalachia Work Camp. We realize that a one-week commitment is large commitment of time, however, we ask that if the following information tugs at your heart that you prayerfully consider participating in the Mission. You can be a part of this Mission work in a myriad of ways: physical participation, prayers support and/or financially supporting the Mission work.
Wayne County, West Virginia is a rural area with rugged mountains and deep valleys. The area is typical of much of Appalachia: rich natural resources and rugged, hilly land traversed by winding roads, sharing the narrow valley floor with creeks which often overflow their banks. With the economic challenges of high unemployment, declining population and low tax revenues, the communities and residents are faced with many problems. Despite these hardships, the people of Appalachia are rich in faith, love, and generosity.
The Wayne County Work Camp provides a service experience for adults and youth who desire a “hands on” opportunity to put their faith into action by serving those who are in desperate need. The Work Camp’s mission is to glorify God; to share the love of Christ by addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the people; to work together to make homes warm, safe, and dry; and to experience Christian community by living, working, and worshiping together.
The Work Camp is an eight-day commitment, traveling to and from Appalachia, approximately 600 miles away. We reside at a Cabwaylingo State Park for the duration of the week. A packet of information regarding logistics on the Mission can be provided to anyone interested.
Information on Christmas Mission:
Advent giving can be experienced in great magnitude on Mission to Appalachia which brings to close the gracious giving of our Parish through the Advent Giving Tree Ministry. After the prayer of selecting, purchasing, wrapping and shipping over four hundred gifts to the poorest of the poor is accomplished, a group of merry volunteers are enlisted to travel to Dunlow, West Virginia. The Mission group will be given the joyful task to distribute the gifts to approximately 200 children. This group of volunteers organize a Christmas event like no other, for children who lack in material needs, and also in social needs. While we are overstimulated with events, preparations, and celebrations during this season of joy, the children of Appalachia are isolated and have little available in terms of social gatherings. Our volunteers travel to provide what even a wrapped gift could not give… the gift of celebration in community. God is made manifest in these relationships forged and flourished six hundred miles later. Due to COVID restrictions, the past two years we provided a two day drive through distribution. The first day we provided food for over 700 families to nourish body and soul. The second day we lavished almost 200 children with wrapped Christmas gifts distributed by Santa, Mrs. Clause, Sleepy time Bear and the many Merry Elves. The outdoor decorations and music provided for a whimsical drive through experience with the richest of gifts; hope and love!
It is rare to see our charity come full circle. And while our Church has given and served the multitudes through our Advent Giving Tree Ministry, we see this Mission from it’s beginning to it’s near end in this video. Missing the mark of not being in the meager humble homes (mangers) of those we serve when they opened their gifts… and food served in these homes for weeks… up 70 pounds of food to 700 families in dire need. This we close our eyes and imagine in awe… almost heaven West Virginia. When you watch this video, look beyond the faces, see yourselves in the video and the countless ways in which you are a “God bearer”. Look with joy on the many ways you have brought Christ to the brokenness of this world and you will see love, healing, hope and the peace that “far surpasses human understanding”! Oh come Emmanuel, in deed He has! May God bless you for this… and so much more!
Saint Joseph Church has been a supporter to the poorest of the poor in this rugged and rural area for many years, contributing to the Christmas Mission as well as the Work Camp. The video from last summers Work Camp provides a full view of the Work Camp and much of the fruits of this Mission Work. Greg, the recipient of one of the homes built, in the Work Camp video, was blessed to receive all the appliances for his new home from the generosity of this loving Parish. We built his home this past summer and when I saw him at our Christmas Mission, he was a new man… or his former self before he fell on difficult times recovering as a war veteran. His confidence and ability to lead others, and to serve, is beyond magnificent. This is often what giving to those with great need does. Greg was given dignity and hope… and the outpouring of love from those building beside him, and your love in the form of stove, refrigerator, hot water heater, microwave, washer, and dryer… all totaling $7,000.00, has given him a broad and optimistic outlook on life. You have given so much more than appliances … you have given the love of God tangible in a myriad of ways. Please prayerfully consider finding out more information on this life changing opportunity and more about our Christmas Mission.
