Schnellville And St. Anthony Parishioners
A group representing the linked parishes of Sacred Heart in Schnellville and St. Anthony in St. Anthony enjoyed a successful mission trip recently. They traveled more than 250 miles to help the less fortunate in Martin, Ky. Working with an organization called the Christian Appalachian Project that has been helping families in eastern Kentucky for the past 50 years, the group spent a few days there that definitely changed lives.
“I can not say enough about how rewarding this trip was,” Deacon Ken Johanning admitted. “As always happens, we got more in return than we gave.”
They were sent off after Mass on Sunday, June 7, and they didn’t return until the following Friday. Monday morning they began the work to transform old and rotting steps into a safe wheelchair ramp. The husband who lived there had developed frontal-lobe dementia and was no longer able to use the steps to go to doctor appointments.
Before Friday, they completed the 70-foot-long ramp. Since the ramp needed to have ground access in two places and it was so long, the group decided to put in a corner bench and an umbrella for shade so that the couple could have a place to sit outside and enjoy the view. This extra side bench hadn’t been the plan CAP had laid out for them, but the group thought it would be a nice addition for the couple.
They also installed a small deck and stairs at the rear door so that the couple wouldn’t have to use the makeshift concrete blocks they had set in place for so many years.
On Friday, the group helped clean the CAP facility and then was on the road again, feeling proud of all their hard work and knowing that it would greatly improve the lives of the elderly couple.
Before going straight home, they stopped at a state park as a time to relax after all they had accomplished. They took a lift ride to a large natural stone bridge and enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation.
“They were just fantastic, worked hard, fixed our sack lunches in the morning, never complained, listened, were great with the grandchildren of the family and compassionate with the man battling the dementia issues,” remarked Deacon Ken, reflecting on the youth helpers. “All this while working in the sun in 90 degree temperatures. And still they seemed to be having great fun all the while (including having a water gun fight with the grandchildren). If anyone gets worried about the future, they should spend six days with a group of young people like these and their hope for the future will be restored.”
The volunteers are hoping to go back to Kentucky next year and are already looking forward to it.
IN THE PHOTO
Members of Sacred Heart Parish in Schnellville and St. Anthony Parish in St. Anthony take a break during a mission trip to help the less fortunate in eastern Kentucky. Above are, front row, Katherine Hurst, Kelly Schroering, Kade Boeglin, Shelby Olinger, back row, Deacon Ken Johanning, Gladys Johanning, Sara Betz, Kiersten Haas, Madelyn Pund, Heather Wallhauser, Sandy Turner, Kevin Olinger and Kade Olinger.
