From July 16-20, youth and their adult chaperones from Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri met in Springfield for a time of service and prayer within a program called Just5Days. The group gathered at St. Joseph Parish in Springfield to learn more about Catholic social teaching, and from there to volunteer in a variety of worksites in and around Springfield.

"I love seeing so many enthusiastic people brave the summer heat to serve people in need," says Kyle Holtgrave, associate director for Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the diocese and site coordinator for the Just5Days session in Springfield. "Young people want to make a positive impact on the world and Just5Days helps connect them with agencies that are doing just that."

Worksites are researched and selected by how they serve people in need. Some sites offer the opportunity for young people to work directly with others while different sites offer hands-on work behind the scenes. Evening activities help the young people make connections between how their work serves others and church teachings on the human family.

Youth from St. Boniface Parish in Edwardsville spent their service time at Holy Family Food Pantry in downtown Springfield, sorting back-to-school supplies for area students. This group also helped at Mission Outreach with the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, sorting medical supplies that are shipped to various places around the world.

Young people from Ss. Peter and Paul in Collinsville helped MERCY Communities clean up and refurnish two apartments so that homeless families could transition from a shelter to apartment living. Despite the hot weather, another group from Ss. Peter and Paul helped at Jubilee Farm, a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield.

At the end of the week, everyone has a hard time saying goodbye, Holtgrave says, as they have developed personal relationships with each other and with the people they served throughout the week.

When asked if personal faith or understanding of the Catholic Church had grown as a result of the Just5Days experience, one young person responded, "Yes. I learned that the littlest things can make a difference and I've learned more about myself as a Catholic."

Just5Days is a experience of service, hands-on learning activities, prayer and liturgy, and community building designed for groups of middle school youth and their adult leaders from Catholic parishes and schools. Just5Days is hosted in other cities across the country, including Appleton, Wis., Austin, Texas, Jacksonville, Fl., Kansas City, Kan., Oklahoma City, Okla., Springfield, Mass., and St. Joseph, Mich. For more information, contact Kyle Holtgrave at (217) 698-8500.