In the past, leaving her home was a difficult ordeal for Nora Drinkwater. “It took two people to get her in and out,” said Nora’s daughter Lisa Drinkwater, who lives with her elderly mother in their Stephens City home. “We had to put extra grab bars up. We’d have to prop the door open. It was just a big fall risk every time she was going in and out.”
Then a volunteer crew of WorkCampers spent a week building Nora a wheelchair ramp leading from her front door to her driveway. At WorkCamp — a weeklong annual youth ministry program coordinated by the Office of Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries — more than 600 teens spent June 18-24 improving homes for those in need. They replaced windows, doors, roofs and more. The Drinkwaters enjoyed getting to know the crew and appreciated the work. “We’re just grateful that we have something that’s going to be safe,” said Lisa.
WorkCampers from parishes around the diocese spent each night at a former middle school building in Stephens City, south of Winchester, where they had hoped to have WorkCamp in 2020 before pandemic precautions necessitated parish-based service instead. Every morning, they gathered for Mass, ate a quick breakfast and drove to a nearby work site. After a long day of work, they returned to home base, showered, ate dinner and spent the evening listening to spiritual talks.
On Wednesday morning, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated Mass for the youths. In his homily, he encouraged their evangelistic work. “You’re carrying Jesus out into this community and to the people who truly need to see his compassion and his goodness and his care for them,” he said. “You’re doing that through your hard work, from the joy that you radiate, through the conversations that you share. I’m so proud of all of you.”
Teen participants said highlights of the week included the construction work, the fellowship and the chance to get closer to God. “I like working out here,” said Matthew Baksy, 15, a parishioner of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Fredericksburg, who helped build Nora’s ramp. “It’s very peaceful but at the same time we’re being active and working as a group for another person, not just ourselves.”
Abigail Adams, a senior at Oakcrest School in Vienna, said the lasting impact from service has inspired her to return to WorkCamp every year. “After freshman year, I wanted to do something to be engaged with my community and also do something faith-oriented,” Adams said. “I just keep coming back because I love the community that it creates.”
“This year has been really special,” Adams said. “Everyone wanted and chose WorkCamp for themselves. Obviously, we’re all at different stages of our relationship with God, and all are experiencing different backgrounds and journeys. We all have this honesty with each other.”
Justin Mendez recalled how WorkCamp helped to rekindle his spiritual life. “I wanted to get closer to God, and I have a really religious friend who told me it would be amazing.” He said that he enjoyed not only serving at the work site, but also participating in activities and talks at WorkCamp Homebase. “I love giving back (and) praying at program,” Mendez said, describing WorkCamp’s nightly routine of faith-related talks, entertainment and prayer. “Program is my favorite part.”
Molly Tierney, 15, a parishioner of St. Matthew Church in Spotsylvania, enjoyed getting to know her crew members and God better. “I love that we have our own little team and we have jokes and we’re like siblings,” she said. “Another one of my favorite parts has been learning new techniques and new skills working on site, and of course learning how to pray. I think it has helped me to see, there are really a lot of people who believe in our God and it made me realize that (he’s) worth believing in.”
On a work site a few miles away, residents Mary and James McFarlane watched as a crew repaired their deck and replaced the wood on their wheelchair ramp. Contractor Paul Tansey, a former WorkCamper, helped the teens use saws, hammer in brackets and troubleshoot the project. “They are so neat, so good, everybody is so patient with everybody else,” said Mary. “It’s just a real pleasure to see a group get along together.”
Nicholas Temple, 16, a parishioner of St. Louis Church in Alexandria, attended WorkCamp last year when the event was split into regional groups as a pandemic precaution. “Last year was very fun, but it wasn’t like the full experience,” said Temple. “I wanted to come to do what I did last year but on a grander scale. I really liked helping out people and reconnecting with my faith because the best relationship is with you and God.”
At Sandy’s Manufactured Home Community in White Post, the teens built a deck for resident Jacob Baker. WorkCamper James David from St. Ann Church in Arlington said WorkCamp was a family tradition, as his older sisters regularly attended throughout high school. “I think the fact that you’re together with kids who share the same faith helps you feel more comfortable,” David said.
For many teens, Tuesday evening adoration and confession is a welcome opportunity to reconnect with God. “Confession was nice,” said David. “I think a lot of people felt that, because it feels like you’re lifting a burden off of you.”
WorkCampers provided resident Charles Townley, 84, with more than a new set of stairs and a new roof for his trailer. Adult Crew Leader Matthew Reardon believes the crew helped preserve the dignity of his life.
While Townley is legally blind, he enjoys his independence and can do most things himself. He admitted that due to his deteriorating eyesight and age, “everything I do is a challenge.” Reardon said Townley’s living environment will now better accommodate his mobility challenges. Townley said that from what he has learned throughout his life, “If you treat a human being with a little bit of respect, you can get respect.”
Genevieve White, a parishioner of St. William of York Church in Stafford, said attending daily Mass before going to the work site helped her to “remember that you’re constantly in God’s presence, and even more so if you’re going to Mass every day.”
Mackenzie Gilkison, 17, a parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Winchester, said the WorkCamp experience brought her back to God after a few difficult years.
“I was struggling with my faith at the beginning of COVID because my grandfather died and it kind of changed me a little bit and made me doubt,” she said. “Seeing two of my friends, they’re very strong in their faith, and seeing them live it this week, going to Mass and praying, and really getting into everything during Mass and adoration, and then going to confession, it helped me come back to see the beauty of it.”
