2025 Boston Mission Trip – Report to the Parishes Take this journey with us – 

As the bus pulled up, a sense of quiet and anxiety surrounded us as we prepared for our journey to Boston. We arrived at Hillside Community Church in Medford, unloaded our belongings and got right to work. Each evening, we reflected on our day, the high and low points of the day, and where we saw God. We would then pray as a group and come   forward in prayer with our individual intentions.   

At each of our worksites over the weekend, teens had the opportunity to serve meals, handout donations, but most importantly, to actually sit and speak to the homeless and underserved, and visit with guests. Our group on Friday split into 3 work locations, all very different. That evening as we all returned from our worksites and met for dinner, we waited for our speaker Justina. We had planned a baby shower for this young mother of 24 who was literally raised in a women’s shelter until the age of 9.   

Our teens were an inspiration to all, demonstrating endless energy, strength, compassion, and courage, with a glimpse of what it might feel like to be homeless and uncomfortable. Even simply doing chores or tasks was an enormous help to those we served. I am so proud of our teens who stepped out of their comfort zone, stayed present with the people they served, just “truly being” with people less fortunate, and they realized that they individually can make a difference in the life of another. Although we learned many lessons, we mostly came to understand that with compassion comes hope, strength, courage, love, trust, perseverance, all without judgment. Many of our teens later explained that they recognize how truly fortunate they are, how much “stuff” they own, and how they are so blessed.   

We are blessed by the support of our community of parishioners from St. Catherine of Siena, St. Mary’s and   St. Therese, to be able to share this experience with our teens, and now with each of you. I am humbled and so very grateful for all of you, your prayers, and your financial and committed support of our Youth Ministry program. I am most thankful to all of you for making this life-changing experience possible to our teens. 

“I learned that I am really, really, lucky. I am really lucky to have caring friends and a caring family…I learned that it is good to go out of your comfort zone…because I think it shaped me to be a better person.” 

“ I learned that I love to talk to and help people, even if it means stepping out of my comfort zone. The smiles on people’s faces make it all worth it for me..” 

“That it is not just me in this world, and there (are) so many people that have it so much worse and need help.” 

“I learned that God is always there and will always support you. He opened my eyes to how lucky I am and how   grateful I should be. I felt a strong connection with Him just by giving people simple things.” 

“I learned that God gives people the strength to overcome hardships, and we just have to look to him for help. God brings people closer together, and is a relationship and bond that is special-like no other.”

 “I really enjoyed participating in Mass. Being with other Catholic teens was really nice and something I wish could happen more often.”