FHB Trip to Camden, MS

The Fallible Human Beings, a group of high school teens that has met on a monthly basis since November 2007, converged upon the Camden/Canton, MS community to experience a first-hand taste of their lives. After receiving a visit from members of Sacred Heart Parish in Camden, MS in December 2008, the twenty-three FHB youth and adult chaperones wanted to experience a first-hand taste of their lives. The entire Sacred Heart Parish graciously hosted and welcomed the FHB Members with arms opened wide.

This became an eye opening, life-changing experience for the teens and adults. Their journey to Mississippi, a state that ranks 50th in quality education, housing, economics, and employment, exposed them to a deeper understanding of serving the economically disadvantaged. Among the activities planned during their stay was a community service project at Holy Child Jesus Parish in Canton, MS. This was the parish that Sr. Thea Bowman once attended and in which she later taught. The parish school’s enrollment has dwindled to fewer than 100 students and is struggling to survive and maintain quality Catholic education for the students in Canton.

The collaboration of Sacred Heart Parish and the FHB Members joined forces with the Holy Child Jesus Folks to prepare their school grounds for an upcoming open house. The group assisted with the beautification of the grounds by pulling weeds and planting flowers and plants, restriping the parking lot, and cleaning and setting up the gymnasium for a presentation to perspective students and parents. Upon completion of the project the teens remained enthusiastic and viewed it as fun and another opportunity to interact with each other.

While the FHB teens noted, “life seems difficult in Camden, and they deserve so much more,” they also commented, “the youth of Camden exhibit a stronger sense of faith and are more serious about the Church and God in spite of their obstacles.”

The trip was coordinated through the collaboration of Sr. Donna Gunn & Staff of Sacred Heart Parish in Camden, MS, Sr. Marianne Keena, CSJ, Vocation Director, Sr. Pat Bober, CSJ, Coordinator of Youth Ministry at Sts. Teresa & Bridget Parish, and Corliss Cox, CSJA, Senior Youth Ministry Coordinator at the St. Charles Lwanga Center. It took place during the weekend of June 12 – 14, 2009.