Maria Goretti Youth House Undergoes Renovations
More than 100 parishioners of St. John the Baptist Parish in Newburgh attended an open House this spring at the Maria Goretti Youth House, located on Frame Road, across the street from St. John the Baptist School. The house recently underwent a six-month renovation project that resulted in a transformed meeting area for the youth group, scouts and young adults.
Renovations include the addition of a lounge area with a TV for movies and discussions, a praise and worship area for the youth group’s new praise and worship band, a basement complete with pool table and ping pong table, video games, board games and plenty of space to hang out with friends. A fire pit was added in the back yard, thanks to Ben Janney and his Eagle Scout project.
More than 35 teens worked with St. John the Baptist youth minister Charlene Fiedler and her husband Mike, assistant Donna Hansen, Men’s Club volunteers and other adult volunteers to build shelves, tear out walls, design rooms, paint and perform lots of clean up work.
“The youth would like to thank our parish family for their unending support in many ways to allow us space we can call ‘home’ to praise God through music, discussions and studies, and space for becoming our youth family within a family where we can live out our faith,” Fiedler said. “A special thank you to Paul Keller and Jay VanHoosier, who have been supporters from day one and continue to care for us daily.”
Customized artwork by parishioners Ella Bassler, Hannah Wright and Mary Hansen is on display throughout the house. A spiritual Scrabble board designed by Abby Nelson, Joss Maynor and Nathan Marx creates a focal point as visitors enter the building.
Beginning Sundays in August, the Maria Goretti Youth House will host teen groups Edge and Lifeteen, as well as the Praise and Worship band. Fiedler looks forward to hosting cookouts, game nights, hangout nights and more in the newly remodeled space.
