지난 6개월 동안 알링턴 교구 5개 성당의 청소년 사목 관련 담당자들이 모여 준비해 온 중등부 연합 Serve 캠프가 7월 5일(수) 저녁 Parents’ Night 프로그램을 시작으로 7월 8일(토)까지 St. Mark Catholic Church에서 진행되었습니다.
SERVE 캠프는 원래 Junior High Work Camp라는 이름으로 10년 넘게 매년 알링턴 교구 내 4개 성당(St. Leo the Great, St. Mary of Sorrows, St. Mark, St. Veronica)이 연합하여 진행해 왔으며, 본당은 2016년부터 이 캠프에 참여하고 있습니다. 캠프 참가자들은 3박 4일 동안 미사, 성체조배, 고백성사, 희생, 봉사, 자선, 친교를 통해 하느님의 사랑을 체험하고 그 사랑을 이웃과 나누며 주님께 찬미와 감사, 영광을 드리는 시간을 보냈습니다.
크루 리더로 봉사해 주신 남영신 미카엘라, 구아름 데레사 선생님 그리고 학부모님들께 감사드립니다.

Nathan Park - SERVE 2023 Participant
I believe that the 2023 SERVE camp was a worthwhile experience. As we started working, I could feel that God was watching over us, and that he was very proud of us.
Attending daily mass was also wonderful. If I hadn’t gone to SERVE camp, I likely wouldn’t have felt the holiness of going to mass every day. Even though we go to mass every week, daily mass gives me a very different feeling of happiness. We also did a rosary walk around the parish. Praying together with so many other young catholics was very holy and spiritual.
While I was praying I could picture Jesus in the crowd, praying with us. I loved all of these experiences, but my favorite time with God was the adoration hour. During adoration hour, we were able to quietly sit next to Jesus and pray to him. Apart from the spiritual parts of SERVE, the community services were great as well. Collecting donations for people in need, painting curbs, and mulching were all great experiences. Just like how Jesus came down as a servant that helped others, being able to help others in the community was amazing.
Not only did the work become fun towards the end, but it also showed how important it is to help others in the name of God. SERVE camp greatly helped me get closer to God. Most of all, I think I was able to feel the love of God toward his children, and how much he had sacrificed for us. I truly think going to the 2023 SERVE camp was a great decision and an amazing experience.

Anne Hwang - SERVE 2023 Participant
Hi, my name is Anne, and I have participated in the SERVE camp. When I first arrived at St Mark, I remember wanting to leave and saying, “When can we leave” or “What time is it.” Everyone was divided into nine groups, and I was probably the quietest in my group. But as we started to do more activities as a team, I began to talk more and more and ended up being the loudest student there.
The entire camp seemed like a boot camp. We had to do so much work outside in the humid weather, and honestly, I was overwhelmed. We did mulching, washed buses, and even repainted the road curbs. But we had fun activities in between, like basketball games, water fights, volleyball games, and many others.
I started work camp with low expectations in mind but ended with many fun memories and learned that sharing God’s love takes a community to build. I am so excited to return next year, and I hope you will join me next year.

Jisuh Lee - SERVE 2023 Participant
Hello, my name is Jisuh Lee and I will share my experience at the SERVE Camp. At first, SERVE Camp was not somewhere I wanted to be. I didn't like that we had to go to a different parish for 12 hours a day, just to work.
However, I learned that we didn't just go there to work but to learn about God. Before every activity, as a crew, we prayed to God for strength, during Eucharistic Adoration we had a chance to do confession. We also had guest speakers who would talk to us about how God changed their lives. Not every activity was fun and exciting, but later I found out that they all had a purpose. At the end of camp, when we were doing our last prayer, I felt God’s unconditional love for me, and for everyone there. I knew at that moment that this camp has helped me get closer to God.
The work wasn’t easy, and rather difficult. Mulching playgrounds in the humid weather, painting the curbsides until they look perfect, and walking to each house in the neighborhood to pass out a flyer. It was hard, but it was fun! I became friends with people at camp while mulching, I got to be artistic while painting concrete, and I felt so thankful when people donated food for the food drive.
I came to SERVE Camp with low expectations. After a day of camp, I was happy I was there, and I found myself having fun. I made new friends, experienced different things, learned to appreciate what I have, and most importantly, got the chance to know and learn about God.
I thought it was truly amazing that in the span of three days, I could learn something and experience something so beautiful. I am so fortunate and grateful that I got to be a part of SERVE 2023, and I would definitely recommend this camp.

Jake Park - SERVE 2023 Participant
Before I went to the SERVE camp, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t want to go, but as the camp went on, I began to like it. We did mulching, food drive, and curve side painting. Mulching was hard, but it was also fun at the same time.
Other than the work, there were a variety of activities. Eucharistic adoration was a good time. I also liked the daily mass. A visit to Saint Mary of Sorrows parish was a great experience, too. The church was very big and beautiful. My teacher and crew members and friends were all nice and fun. I enjoyed my time at the SERVE camp.

Michael Koo - SERVE 2023 Participant
I enjoyed going to SERVE camp. At first I wasn’t really excited about it but as the days went by, I was really happy to be there. I got to meet new Catholic friends from other churches, I felt good about helping the community by collecting food donations and mulching the church playground.
I had an opportunity to grow closer to Jesus through Eucharistic Adoration. I really recommend others from our church to go to SERVE next year to experience and see how much God loves us.

Aidan Hwang - SERVE 2023 Participant
I, Aidan Hwang, have attended and finished SERVE 2023 camp. Starting this year's SERVE camp was scary and hard. They immediately gave us work, to begin with, as we started day 1.
Meeting new people and working with new crew mates to accomplish our goals was difficult. But by doing this, I know that it will help get me closer to god and help to start next year's high school WorkCamp.
I hated working outside and getting sweaty and dirty from all the activities, but thru food drives, assisting other people in getting food on their plates was better than me playing video games at home.