Youth and chaperones from St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Chatham and Holy Cross Parish in Auburn participated in Catholic HEART Workcamp July 8 through 13 in the Archdiocese of Omaha. The 37 youth and seven adults stayed at Archbishop Bergan High School in Freemont, not far from Omaha.

Kevin Collings, youth minister at St. Joseph, said that during the CHWC, the days began with breakfast at 7 a.m. followed by daily Mass at 8 a.m.

"I found it inspiring for the youth, no matter which parish they were from, to be vying for front row seats at Mass," Collings said. "The engagement of the young people was something else that CHWC did a great job with. We had youth as lectors, servers, Communion ministers."

Collings said that adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which was offered midway through the week, was a new experience for some of the young people — and even for some of the chaperones.

During the day, participants worked at a variety of sites, including a Salvation Army food-for-the-kids program, plus a variety of clean-up, fix-up and paint projects.

A general session is held every evening, Collings said, with lots of high-energy music. "And yes, they do sing, dance and have a great time," he said.

Collings said CHWC is an opportunity for young people to experience Jesus Christ in a new way.

"You are in a setting that is away from home with other young people and adults that really want to be there," Collings said. "The young people and their chaperones have worked hard to raise the money and put the sweat equity into working their way to camp.

"And the service that you do for others is second to none," he said.