St Julie Parish Community Builds Community in San Enrique Parish, Tijuana
The teens from St Julie parish who were part of the group who came to San Enrique parish to build a house, finish a concrete flooring and grow in community with the members of San Enrique parish. This group spent three days together putting in concrete flooring in the chapel. It was grueling work hauling concrete up the hill to where the chapel is being built. They worked independently the morning of the first day but then realized that if they worked together in a chain gang, then the work would go much faster and they would expend less energy. They shared their new understanding of teamwork with us at the day's reflection time. It is an understanding born of process and experience--the truest teacher. These young people came to Tijuana as acquaintenances or strangers, and left as close friends. What makes this particular immersion expereince unique is that it is intergenerational and parish supported. The entire community of St. Julie's was involved in supporting this trip through their donations of time materials and $$. This trip also came to support the Catholic parish of San Enrique in Tijuana. So this is not only about kids being transformed through the language of these opportunities, but entire communities.
