Nazareth Farm in West Virginia seeks to “transform lives through a service-retreat experience.” After spending a week there with Cristo Rey St. Martin students, Br. Peter Lamick, CSV has another shorthand for this impactful trip: “Nazareth Farm introduced the teens to young adult leadership in the Catholic Church.”
These weeklong experiences at Nazareth Farm are built on community, simplicity, prayer, and service. As a co-endorsing community of CRSM, Viatorians like to help with Sacramental celebrations, retreat experiences, and service outings with students such as this one. So, Br. Peter joined CRSM Director of Campus Ministry Mr. Jim Dippold and several CRSM students, as well as adults and students from Christ the King, a Cristo Rey Network school on Chicago’s west side.
Br. Peter also joined Fr. Corey Brost, CSV to accompany an educational immersion group to the US-Mexico border earlier this summer. These two trips are just a few examples of how Viatorians support and take part in campus ministries of Cristo Rey St. Martin.
“The entire program was directed by young people for young people. The simple living experience focused on enacting Catholic Social Teaching and living as an intentional faith community,” Br. Peter said. “The students found tremendous joy in a lifestyle shaped by mission, spirituality, and community.”
The time at Nazareth Farm and in the surrounding communities involved hands-on homebuilding and retreat elements to combine direct service with reflection toward living faith that does justice.
Often, adults come along on high school field trips simply as chaperones, but in campus ministry, Mr. Dippold and Br. Peter immerse with the students as much as possible in these service-learning experiences. “I gave up my cell phone for the week, too, so I could fully be present – which was actually amazing,” Br. Peter said. “At the end of every day, the CRSM group gathered, processed, and shared our experiences together, and, particularly, looked for moments where we felt God’s presence. The reflections were profound.”
The school collected some of these reflections to share on their website and newsletter: “For many students, prayer was both the hardest and most rewarding part of the experience. Cristian shared, ‘I really struggled with the value of prayer. During the week, I started to realize that prayer is foundational; stress and anxiety started to dissipate the more I prayed.’”
Earlier this year, Viatorians joined the CRSM Founders’ Dinner celebration, including Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial celebrating Mass and preaching and several Viatorians attending Mass and the program.
Viatorians are blessed to take part in such youth faith formation, and the partnership between CRSM lay faculty and staff and Viatorian professed and associates continues going strong. “The Viatorian mission and charism lives and touches people’s lives through Viatorians’ presence, participation, and witness. Our presence matters – and is desired,” Br. Peter said. “This trip focused on Catholic Social Teaching, which is a core dynamic of our Viatorian charism and focus today. There’s a deep congruence between the values of CRSM and the Viatorian Community, especially faith and social justice.”