Lenten journeys take many forms, but at St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas, it is the young people who are leading a parish-wide service project. collection drive poster

“Why not,” says eighth grader Skylar Minden. “It’s what being Viatorian is all about.”

Members of the Campus Ministry program for junior high students as well as those in Faithways, the parish’s religious education program, are partnering to organize a sports equipment collected equipmentcollection drive for children in Belize.

“It’s always nice to help people who don’t ask for it,” says eighth grader Christopher Hernandez.

The collection drive was the brainchild of Anthony Gugino, a former co-leader of the Viatorian Youth  Congress who attended the Belize Immersion Trip last December. He returned to his parish determined to help the youngsters he met at the Viatorian mission in Corozal Town.

Viatorian Associates Paul and Rosy Hartz help coordinate the different youth ministry programs at the parish, and even they are surprised at the response to this drive — and the interest of young people to help.

“This is the first time we have tried this,” Rosy says, “so we are excited to see that people are able to contribute.”