Summer renovations offer life-changing experience

By Roberta Gonzalez and Priscila Quintana

Special to The Valley Catholic

MISSION — Community service is one of the teachings we get from Our Lord Jesus Christ, and as disciples, we must follow his example; this is what Juan Diego Academy student volunteers practiced this summer participating in the Catholic Youth Renovation Project.

The C.Y.R.P. is an annual project sponsored through the Ministry with Young People of the Diocese of Brownsville to repair homes of families with less resources in the Mission area. This project, launched in 2010, continues every summer, impacting the Rio Grande Valley by bringing better living conditions for less fortunate people.

Volunteers for the program include students from Valley Catholic schools as well as others willing to help.

One JDA teacher, Stefan Lin, said the most attractive aspect of the project was the concept of the community coming together to help those most in  need. Helping needy people encouraged him to do a better job, he said, adding that the main reason he volunteered was to show support to participating students, since they are the ones that complete the most work.

“I am lucky enough, by the grace of God, to have the things that I have,” Lin said.  “I want to extend that grace to others.”

JDA’s students had different reasons for joining the project; however, in the end, they all accomplished the same objective. A senior student, Juan Carlos Salinas’ main purpose was to obtain Christian Ministry hours, but after the project was finished, he said he could not wait until next summer to start the next one. He said he had a chance to reflect on what he has, and even enjoyed the time spent in the hot sun.

Camila Yruegas, a sophomore, said she learned how to be more resourceful. She said she would recommend this project to people who like to be outdoors and do yard work, since most of the work is outside.

“The most interesting experience was getting to do a lot of construction on the house,” she said. “I loved using the drill.”

A junior student, Alex Aguirre said she got the chance to perceive how much of a difference a person can make when willing to help. She added that C.Y.R.P. was a life-changing experience for her, and would recommend it to others.

One of JDA’s missions is to promote a sense of Christian responsibility. So projects such as the C.Y.R.P. encourage students to fulfill their responsibilities to God, and at the same time to themselves by making them better citizens and creating a sense of kindness within them.

JDA’s student volunteers say they’re looking forward to the next Catholic Youth Renovation Project.