St. Bernard Appalachian Mission
July 13-20, 2024

I’d first like to address our 2023 accomplishments. Our new house build last year was successful and the family moved in late November. A grandmother and two granddaughters are now safe and comfortable in a new home. As one of the granddaughters told me, she couldn’t believe that we would be able to provide her family with a new home. As Deacon, now Father Peter, said last year, there were “Many Hands” to make it all possible, including the hands of the St Bernard parishioners.
 
We will this year be part of a larger group during the week of July 13^th  to July 20^th. One group has already completed the new house build the week of June 9^th. Once again, the house is ready for the St. Bernard team to complete the electrical and plumbing and if time permits, insulation and begin the sheet rock. The St. Bernard's team will also, this year, provide crew chiefs for other repair jobs. It seems that every year we are expanding and able to accomplish more for the less fortunate. We are looking for volunteers over the age of 16 to help those in need. We will leave St Bernard's on Saturday, July 13^th and return on Saturday, July 20^th. We don’t require any experience. You need only a determination to follow Jesus’ instruction “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” Luke 6:31. This ministry has been present for over 25 year here in St Bernard. With you help, prayers, and assistance, we hope to continue this mission well into the future.
 
As you are aware, and as all of us have experienced, costs have gone up. The cost of renting vans, feeding the volunteers, and especially the cost of materials to put together falling down homes have risen. I will ask that you consider financial assistance to this ministry so we can carry out this years goals. Together with Monsignor Vashon, we would ask that if you can help, please consider placing a check in one of the collection boxes, or sending a check to St. Bernard's office (500 US-22, Bridgewater Township, NJ 08807) or using one of the pre-addressed envelopes we will provide in the Narthex in the next few weeks. Please make checks payable to St. Bernard and note on the check memo “Appalachian Mission”.
 
Thank you again for your support, your prayers and all you have contributed to this very worthwhile cause. Over the years, the hundreds of people that have been helped are truly appreciative of the love you have shown.
 
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected] or [email protected]
 

Phil Guastella  -  Ted Bell  -  Art Sanford

 
Matthew 25:35-40 – For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

 
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected] or [email protected]
 

Phil Guastella  -  Ted Bell  -  Art Sanford

 
Matthew 25:35-40 – For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will  answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

~~~~~~~~~~~

My Arms are too Short to Reach the Poor—Many Arms are Needed.

One of the highlights of my summer at Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Parish was the opportunity to participate in the Appalachian program with a group from the parish. Our group consisted of nine people. I wouldn't have been able to do this if I hadn't joined the West Virginia program to help the poor. 

We set off right after Morning Mass on Saturday. On the way there, I felt very excited, and when we reached West Virginia, I joked with my companions in the car that I now could feel the lyrics of "Take Me Home, Country Roads."

When we arrived at where we would stay, I was surprised and asked, “Is there no internet here?” They smiled, and I realized this would be a very interesting week. 

We got there on Saturday night, and on Sunday morning, we attended Mass in a small parish about 45 minutes from where we were staying. I had an opportunity to talk with the pastor there, and I realized that the parish was very small, with only about 30 families. But the people there were very pious and regularly attended Mass. Going to Mass made me feel more at home, since I believe that God is present everywhere with His people.
 
Our team started working on Monday morning, completing all the electrical work, and plumbing and insulating the entire house. We finished the rails on the front and back entry decks, among other tasks. In the group, everyone except me seemed to be very talented and very proficient in their work. I felt very comfortable learning and working with the people on my team. Everyone worked very enthusiastically and wholeheartedly.
 
The house is under construction for a grandmother and two grandchildren. I had an opportunity to enter the grandmother's and two grandchildren's old house, and I felt sorry for them. It seemed like the house was ready to collapse. I was thinking that if a storm came, the house would not be able to stand. I hope they find a new sense of security because of the work we did that week.
 
We planned to try to get everything done in one week and be back on Saturday. However, there were so many things to do that we couldn't finish as planned, and some of the team volunteered to stay for an extra Saturday and Sunday to get the work done.
 
Thank God, the journey was good, and it was very meaningful to me. Through this trip, I realized how meaningful life can be when I step out of my comfort zone. Moreover, many people and families are waiting for help. They live not only in material poverty but can also suffer from a lack of love from others.
 
I kept on thinking about the question: how can I help these people to have a better life? I suddenly realized that my arms are too short; I alone cannot reach those suffering and impoverished. Instead, it will take many arms to reach these people and families. Perhaps it is an invitation to everyone today to extend their arms to those living in loneliness,      suffering, and poverty. Together, we can change the world.
 
After experiencing this trip, I also want to thank the benefactors and volunteers. Through their prayers, support, words, and deeds, they brought a warmth of love to those living in suffering, poverty, and on the margins of society. Their good example is an invitation to us all to reach out to people living on society's outskirts.

Save the date July 16 - 22, 2022

I’d like to first address our 2021 accomplishments. We spent two weeks in West Virginia and completed the building of two houses last year. The first family moved into their new home in October and appeared in a previous bulletin. The second home was recently completed and Greg, an Army Veteran, and his family moved in on Saturday March 5, 2022.  You can see from the pictures (below) that he is quite proud of the new home and is thankful to everyone who participated in the build and “signed his log”. Greg was involved in every step of his new home being built – and insisted on sleeping on the floor in the home every night to make our job easier by not having to move all of our tools and supplies out of the home.
For 2022, we will return back to our normal routine of repairing broken homes and will be building at least one new house. The repairs are critical, and of course, the need has backed up over the last two years. We are looking for volunteers over the age of 16 to help those in need. We will leave St Bernards on Sunday June 12^th, and return on Saturday June 18^th. We don’t require any experience. You need only a determination to follow Jesus’ instruction “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” Luke 6:31. This ministry has been present for over 25 year here in St. Bernard. With you help, prayers, and assistance, we hope to continue this mission well into the future.
As you are aware, and as all of you have experienced, costs have gone up. The cost of renting vans, feeding the volunteers, and especially the cost of matertials to put together falling down homes have risen. I will ask again that you consider financial assistance to this ministry so we can carry out this year's goals. Together with Monsignor Vashon, we would ask that if you can help, please consider placing a check in one of the collection boxes, or sending a check to St Bernards office (500 US-22, Bridgewater Township, NJ 08807) or in one of the envelopes we will provide in the Narthex in the next few weeks. Please make checks payable to St Bernard and note on the check memo “Appalachian Mission”. 
Thank you again for your prayers and all you have contributed to this very worthwhile cause.
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected] or [email protected]
Phil Guastella  -  Ted Bell  -  Art Sanford

Matthew 25:35-40 – For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

This past summer, we again were active in supporting the Appalachian Mission program in Dunlow, West Virginia. St. Bernard's provided invaluable services in the construction of two new homes. Although we were not able to attend this summers grand event for one week in June with over 100 attendees, the St. Bernard team of eleven arrived about three weeks later mid-July. The reason for the displacement is because we have the talent to complete all of the electrical and plumbing required for the new homes – and of course, the structures need to be constructed and fully closed up with windows, doors and roof. So during that week in June, two large teams of young adults constructed both houses as well as a number of smaller teams working on needed repairs that have not been done in a couple of years. The houses were built in five days with the help of a local high school now providing talent to prefab almost all of the wall sections.  Even with oppressive heat, they completed the two houses successfully.
When we arrived, we did a walk through on both houses to assess how our team of eleven was going to split up to accomplish our part of the build. Not only were we successful in completing most of the plumbing and all of the electrical, but we also were able to insulate most of the two houses. Both houses passed electrical inspection with no problems. Subsequent to our departure, plumbing and insulation was completed, the houses were sheet-rocked and spackled, final trim and flooring and installation of appliances are all in process. The three bedroom home will have the occupants move in on Thanksgiving week and the two bedroom house will have occupants on or about December 20^th. A little background on the families that will occupy the homes. The three bedroom house is going to a needy family of four. Mother, father, a non-verbal autistic son, and a new baby that arrived one week after we departed. During the time we were there, the father was in the hospital for treatment of leukemia. He is reported to be doing well and the new daughter is healthy and doing well. The two bedroom house is going to ‘Greg’, his wife and grandson. Their current impeccably kept house was constructed of poor lumber which is now deteriorating, causing the house to fall in on itself. The center of the house is clearly 6 inches lower than the walls. Greg spent the entire week we were there helping us during the day, cleaning up and guarding our tools and materials. Please add these families to your prayers.
Because of your prayers and support, we were able to manage the ever increasing costs associated with both the build, the vehicles, the gas and the food for our volunteers. We were able to significantly reduce the cost of the vans with corporate contract rates. Of course, materials were difficult to get at times, and by careful planning very early in the year, we were able to manage. Prior to 2020, we were able to put up a 900 sq. ft. house for $25-$30K. This year, the cost is running well over $40K for the same house. Somehow we have managed through it all, and appreciate all of the support that this parish has provided. I remind you that any and all funds collected for the Appalachian Mission are used        specifically toward the building and arrangements as described. We appreciate that every year, the generosity of this  parish allows us to continue this important mission.
Thank you again for your prayers and all you have contributed to this very worthwhile cause.
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected] or [email protected]

Phil Guastella  -  Ted Bell  -  Art Sanford

Matthew 25:35-40 – For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

Matthew 25:35-40 – For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

This past June (2017), we completed our 18^th summer of a cooperative effort among the parishes of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Immaculate Conception Somerville, the Presbyterian churches of Huntington (WV) and Baltimore (MD) and students and chaperones from Notre Dame Cathedral School (Ohio). We have embarked on missions that have changed lives in the Wayne County area of West Virginia. Over 100 individuals in total participated this year in the Wayne County Work Camp, located in the poverty stricken Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. With the economic challenges of high unemployment, declining population and low tax revenues, the communities and residents are faced with many problems.  Despite these hardships, the people of Appalachia are rich in faith, love and generosity.

The Wayne County Work Camp is one of the programs of the Cabwaylingo Appalachian Mission, a 501C (3) charity operated from the Huntington Presbyterian Chapel. The Camp provides a service experience for youth (16yo and older) and adults who desire a “hands-on” opportunity to put their faith to work, by serving those who are in need. The mission is to glorify God; to share the love of Christ by addressing the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the people; to work together to make homes warm, safe and dry; and to experience Christian community by living, working, and worshiping together.

With Pope Francis declaring November 19^th to be the “World Day of the Poor”, I’d like to take this opportunity to tell the parishioners of St Bernard how in one way, we as a parish have collectively aided, cared and comforted those in greatest need. I can’t imagine a better way to experience a ‘culture of encounter’ and the bringing together of different people with tenderness and solidarity. This past June, we did just that!

This summer, 15 members of our St Bernard parish participated in “Mission 2017”, by traveling to West Virginia to build and repair homes and share our talents with those most desperately in need. This parish provides half of the talent to manage the many work teams for the weeklong event!

A question most frequently asked by those interested in this mission effort is: “Who funds the Camp?” Simply stated, it is the generosity of the members of our parish, and the participants themselves. We realize that while only 15 people will make the 600-mile journey down to Wayne County, there are a far greater number of participants, through your generosity and donations that have helped to make this mission possible, year after year. Each participant in the Camp is expected to contribute a percentage of the cost of building supplies and materials that will be used throughout the course of the week, as well as a small portion going towards lodging and transportation. This year, we far surpassed our goal for donations, and that leaves us with an incredible opportunity to do even more next year and in years to come.

 

There were, this year, at least 12 different projects undertaken at the camp. We repaired trailers, cabins or shacks, built decks for access, replaced floors and roofs. One team built an access ramp for 5 year old ‘Ivy’ who suffers from Chromosome 23 disease. In another location, we replaced a living room and kitchen floor in a trailer where the floor had fallen through, and the resident had to walk on the supporting beams to move around his home. We left him with new floors installed, the leaking windows replaced and new structure to insure that at least for the near future, the home was secure.

As I mentioned in June, this year we embarked on an even more ambitious project than in the past – the largest undertaken by the Appalachian Mission Program. The St Bernard team has previously built two homes (500sq ft and 900sq ft) for 2 person families. This year we purchased a distressed property for a family of 4! A huge undertaking, we had well over 75 participants work on the project over the course of two weeks. (Yes, some of us signed on for an extra week and we were pleased to get assistance from personnel from the Center for Faith Justice based out of Lawrenceville, NJ)  We rebuilt porches, replaced windows, new siding, new metal roof, shored up structure, rewired, insulated, sheet rocked, and so on. The family destined for the home – Brady and wife ‘Charley’, and two sons Andrew and Conner participated in the work effort, and visited with us over the two weeks. Work has continued since the summer and the family is expected to move in by the end of the year.

Somehow, we are managing to accomplish what seems to be impossible. We are now building homes, well beyond the simple repairs of the past. The jobs are difficult, and more help is always needed. And Wayne County, being 600 miles from NJ presents a time and travel expense challenge – van rental and fuel cost us thousands of dollars each summer. We need your help more than ever to continue the valuable program. We need your prayers and your support. Thank you for your continued interest in the program. Next year’s event will be the week of June 10-16, 2018.  Mark your calendars, and think about how you can participate. We’ll be reminding you as the week draws near. Thank you.