Toledo St. Charles Borromeo Youth Group poses with the youth group of their “sister parish,” St. Charles Borromeo of St. Charles, Minn. (Photo courtesy of John Van Rynen)

The Minnesota group traveled to New York by charter bus and chose Toledo as a mid-way overnight stop in their two-day journey, stopping again on their return trip home. They selected St. Charles Borromeo because it represented a “sister parish” of the same name.

Arrangements for the overnight stays were made well in advance through Father Gregory Peatee, pastor of Toledo St. Charles, the Minnesota youth leaders and Alison Van Rynen, pastoral assistant at Toledo St. Charles.

Members of the local parish youth group and their leaders welcomed the Minnesota group upon their arrival July 26. Both groups attended Saturday evening Mass together before the Minnesotans were transported to St. Francis de Sales High School, where Jerry Mocek, director of religious education and youth minister for Toledo St. Charles, had arranged for them to shower and freshen up.

On arrival back at St. Charles, the group was treated to an outdoor dinner on the front lawn of the parish grounds. Afterwards the Minnesota group spent the night in sleeping bags on the church floor, rising early the next morning to continue their trip to New York.

After a week of long service hours in New York, the Minnesota group arrived back in Toledo, late the evening of Aug. 2. Although tired, they were emotionally upbeat after their service experience.

The group again spent the night in sleeping bags on the church floor, rising early for the 7:30 a.m. Sunday Mass at Toledo St. Patrick of Heatherdowns before resuming their trip back to Minnesota.

The encounter provided a chance for the two St. Charles Borromeo “sister parishes” to form a bond of friendship and service with the youth, adult leaders and chaperones from both parishes.
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John Van Rynen is the assistant youth minister at Toledo St. Charles Borromeo.