News

New Holstein teens address human concerns

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

	CLEAN AND SHINE: Sallie Fett, Rececca Birschbach and Jacky Schmitz clean the car belonging to Fr. Harold Berryman, pastor of Holy Family Parish, New Holstein, as part of a fund-raiser in support of a mission in Honduras. The three girls are part of the parish human concerns committee. (Rick Evans photo)

Many religious education classes participate in service projects, but last year's ninth grade class at Holy Rosary Parish, New Holstein, took it several steps further.

The teens formed a parish Human Concerns Committee, and identified two immediate causes to support in Honduras.

The committee is trying to raise funds for a mission served by Sr. Dorothy Pelt, a Sister of Mercy, who resides in Puerto Cortes. For 26 years, Sr. Dorothy has ministered to 66 mountain villages in northwest Honduras. The people in the villages are extremely poor. Many families make less than $1 a day.

Sr. Dorothy hopes that fish farming can greatly improve the lives of the people in two of the poorest villages. The Human Concerns Committee wants to raise $200 to $300 to get the fish farming project started, and plans to offer continued support.

The second cause has a Wisconsin tie. The committee hopes to raise $300 to purchase a digital camera for Sirce Enamorado, a native of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, who teaches English and computer use to orphans in her homeland. Enamorado was sent to the orphanage at age five because her mother was too ill and poor to care for her. Her mother died a short time later. At age 10, her father located her. While living with her father and grandfather, she attended school. Enamarado's academic excellence earned her a two-year scholarship from Georgetown University to attend Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton. She studied both English and human resources at Fox Valley Tech before returning to Honduras.

"The camera will allow Sirce to send pictures to us," said Dave Whorall, the ninth grade religious education teacher at Holy Rosary and advisor to the Human Concerns Committee. "We can use the pictures when giving talks to help raise money and collect school supplies for the orphanage."

Whorall introduced the teens to the struggles of the mountain villages in Honduras. He and his wife, Marty, have made seven service trips to the region.

"The people have many needs," said Whorall. "The area suffered the effects of Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Some progress has been made. Through the Heifer Project, Sr. Dorothy was able to purchase nine cows to provide milk and cheese. They now have 30 cows, but most of the families are still very needy. Sr. Dorothy is 86 years old, so you worry about the future if she is unable to help these people."

Ironically, a trip to Honduras brought Whorall to New Holstein. While visiting Sr. Dorothy, a container from the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse arrived in Puerto Cortez. Whorall, who was living in Menominee Falls, Wis., at the time, was unaware of the Mission Warehouse. He visited with Br. Regis Fust, SDS, founder of the warehouse, shortly after returning to the United States. Dave and Marty decided to relocate to New Holstein to serve the mission.

"Mr. Whorall showed us a lot of pictures and talked about Honduras," said Emily Meyers, a Human Concerns Committee member who will be a high school sophomore in the fall. "It made you want to do something to help."

"Seeing the people had a big influence on me," said classmate Rebecca Birschbach. "The people were really skinny and looked sort of weird. You could tell that they did not have much."

In addition to providing financial support, the Human Concerns Committee is planning a trip to Honduras. Whorall estimates the cost at $750 to $800 per person. They may go as early as next February, after the rainy season and before the dry season.

"Being present makes a world of difference," said Whorall. "They need money, but having people from the United States go there shows them that we really care. That is so important."

"I'm definitely going," said Birschbach. "I want to spend time with the kids."

"I think it will be a great experience," said committee member Sallie Fett. "I think it also shows that people our age can make a difference."

The teens made a presentation before the parish council in order to be officially recognized as the Holy Rosary Human Concerns Committee.

"I was a little hesitant about it," said Kevin Boettcher, who serves as the committee president. "They (parish council) were happy that we were doing it. They thought it was a good idea."

The group, which hopes to expand by adding members form the incoming ninth grade religious education class, held a brat fry/bake sale/car wash as a fund-raiser in support of the projects in Honduras. Whorall emphasized the future need to provide support locally, including the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse.

"We are currently raising money for projects, but locally, we can provide aid by muscle power," he said. "Hopefully this group that started it can look back in 40 or 50 years and see it still going strong."

To assist the committee's outreach efforts in Honduras, send donations to: Human Concerns Committee, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 1724 Madison Street, New Holstein, WI, 53061