Young Parishioners Turn 'homeless'

For 20 young members of two Dubois County parishes, the late afternoon of March 27 marked the beginning of a new, albeit short-lived, paradigm. They became homeless for about 24 hours, participating in the Shantytown Weekend organized by Deacon Miek Seibert of St. Celestine Parish in Celestine and St. Raphael Parish in Dubois.

“We had support from a bunch of adults,” Deacon Seibert said, “but the youth got a hard look into the lives of many people across our region – and our state and country – who don’t have a home.” The young people had no technology; only large cardboard shelters to use on a night when temperature dipped into the high teens; and hardly anything to eat.

They did, however, have plenty of work. Deacon Seibert organized them into groups to chop firewood, and to deliver it by the load to needy family in Dubois County. “We hauled about 26 loads of firewood,” he said, “so they were all pretty tired by Saturday afternoon.”

The group attended the Palm Sunday Vigil Mass at St. Raphael, which was followed by a soup dinner to provide a hot meal.

Deacon Seibert has been organizing the Shantytown Weekend for several years during Lent to help the young people of the parishes gain a better understanding of what it truly means to be homeless.