Annual youth volunteer effort assists Brown County residents

Teenagers and youth ministry leaders from St. Agnes Parish in Nashville, and St. Ann, St. Benedict and Sacred Heart of Jesus parishes in Terre Haute spent four days in late July assisting people in need in Brown County. (Submitted photo)

Special to The Criterion

BROWN COUNTY—Each summer, a group of teenagers from St. Agnes Parish in Nashville, and St. Ann, St. Benedict and Sacred Heart of Jesus parishes in Terre Haute come together with adult leaders to help people in need in Brown County.

Indiana Nazareth Farm is an annual service camp sponsored by St. Agnes Parish and the three Terre Haute parishes. It is based on four cornerstones—community, prayer, simplicity and service.

This year, the camp took place on July 27-31, and included 15 teenagers, four young adults and 14 adults.

Each teenager and adult leader provided an average of 36 hours of intensive hard labor in just four days, equaling 1,188 hours of volunteer service. Team leaders were youth ministry coordinator Adrianne Spahr from St. Agnes Parish and Janet Roth, youth ministry leader at the three Terre Haute parishes.

As in years past, the youths and their leaders reached out to the Brown County community, and provided their spiritual and physical strength to enrich the lives of residents and ease their their day-to-day challenges.

Some of the projects included painting the inside and outside of residences, building repairs, yard work and cleanup, mulching, constructing a small chicken coop and tunneling under a sidewalk for a propane pipe.

In addition, the youths and leaders shared prayers and reflections every morning and evening.

The original Nazareth Farm was formed as an association of the Catholic Church, and is located in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in West Virginia. Its purpose is to provide volunteer service to the people of Appalachia.

In 1994, the program was started in Brown County by youth ministry leaders in Nashville and Terre Haute.

“The appreciation of the people served by these outstanding youths and adult leaders is impressive and heartfelt,” said Carol D. Nathan, publicity coordinator for Indiana Nazareth Farm. “The service the youths provide and the caring that pours from their hearts is felt by all. The Nazareth Farm project will continue each summer.”

Brown County residents who need assistance are encouraged to keep this outreach in mind for themselves or if they know of others who might benefit from the gift of service provided by these youths and their leaders. †