A passion for service motivates Joliet Catholic alums
Published Feb 13, 2008
ROMEOVILLE—Some people are critical of required community service hours that Catholic schools often include in their curriculums, but there are two Joliet Catholic Academy graduates very grateful for the school’s mandate of 60 service hours before graduation.
Lisa Duffy of Holy Family Parish in Shorewood and Alexandra Fedosenko of Annunciation Byzantine Church in Homer Glen recently told the Catholic Explorer that serving meals at Daybreak Shelter in Joliet among other JCA humanitarian efforts started them on a path that led to mission work in Mexico. They took a break from their work Feb. 1 to discuss their experiences during a telephone conversation.
Fedosenko said, “Lisa and I were very involved with community service at JCA. In the theology department, especially, the religion teachers showed us through example how to live your faith through action.”
A few months after graduation, Duffy and Fedosenko decided to take their own action and volunteer from August 2007 through May 2008 in Mexico. Speaking of their gratitude to God, Fedosenko added, “We wanted to give back to him for everything he’s done for us.”
The two teenagers are currently teaching English to Mission Helpers of the Holy Savior seminarians and nuns in Tepeyac, Mexico. About 19 seminarians, three priests and 49 sisters are studying in the mountainous village, about an hour outside of Acapulco. Describing the work of the religious order 18-year-old Fedosenko said, “Their charism is to go throughout Latin America and bring people back to the church.”
In the last few months, the girls have witnessed the need for evangelization, but they have also noticed the deep faith of the lay people that is generated in primitive conditions—the chapel is constructed of sticks with a tar paper roof, the faithful kneel on a dirt floor and sit on pieces of wood. “It’s changed my faith completely,” said Duffy.
The 19-year-old from Plainfield said the hunger for the Eucharist is inspirational in a place where having a priest to celebrate Mass is a luxury. In some remote villages, where a clergyman is only available to preside over Mass once every two months, the faithful hold Eucharistic celebrations on all the other days.
After learning of the everyday struggles and witnessing the enduring faith of the people with so many challenges, the duo decided to team up with the villagers and raise funds for improving their chapel. Fedosenko concluded, “They want God to have a lovely house, but their poverty has prevented it.”
For about 13 years, the faith community of about 60 people has unsuccessfully tried to raise funds for a new worship space with brick walls, pews and a cement floor. Attempts included hosting fundraising dinners that would generate a meager $10. The local economy is not strong enough to support a $40,000 goal, explained Fedosenko.
So the Midwesterners called upon their American resources during a three-week Christmas hiatus. Presentations to groups, such as the JCA campus ministry, and connections with elementary school communities—Duffy attended Holy Family School and Fedosenko graduated from St. Joseph School in Joliet—netted close to $20,000. They also received donations of items, such as vestments and a tabernacle, from other faith communities.
The trip home also reminded the girls of how “this experience changed us immensely,” added Duffy. She said, “We’re completely different people.”
Her father, Jeff Duffy, wholeheartedly agreed that the trip changed his daughter and the entire family. During a telephone conversation with the Explorer, he acknowledged a hesitancy to let his daughter travel to a remote place without knowing what kind of living conditions would be available. He said, “I was hoping she would go down and come back in a month.”
The leap of faith has turned into a conversion of faith for the entire family. “It’s made me re-evaluate my life a little,” acknowledged Trish Duffy, Lisa’s mother. Lisa’s passion for service and dedication to serving the poor has transformed their faith into a more action-orientated one. Jeff is in the midst of planning a trip to drive supplies to the U. S. headquarters of the mission in New Mexico.
The Fedosenko home has become involved in the endeavor as well. The Joliet household has evolved into a collection point for chapel donations. Alex Fedosenko commented that his entire family has rallied behind the high school friends. He said, “They are doing a great thing.”
Checks payable to Mission Helpers can be sent to Alexandra’s mother, Donna Fedosenko at 1101 Buell Ave., Joliet, IL 60435.
