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YourHub.com \\ Camarillo \\ Stories \\ Posting is no longer available. \\ Church News

Race to World Youth Day

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Contributed by: James Ellias on 7/5/2007

Eager teenagers and adults rush to their cars, crumpled papers containing their clues clenched in their hands, anxious to find the nature of their secret destination. The Amazing Race is on!
To raise money for World Youth Day 2008, parishioners from Padre Serra, St. Mary Magdalene church in Camarillo, and Holy Cross Church in Moorpark have teamed to put on an Amazing Race.
"The Amazing Race is a fundraiser planned by the adults going to Youth Day, and put on by the kids," said Debbie Folino, director of the Amazing Race event. "Participants will get into cars and decipher cryptic clues to figure out where they must drive. At each destination, there will be a clue to the next destination. At the secret final destination there will be prizes given out, a gourmet dinner, a silent auction, and a 50/50 raffle."
The idea was supposed to be used in 2005 as a fundraiser for the last World Youth Day in Germany. The Cana-Couples group at Padre Serra had used the idea several times before, so Folino decided to turn it into a fundraising activity.
Since 1984 the Catholic Church has put on a World Youth Day. World Youth Day is a gathering of Catholic youth from all over the globe. Kids enjoy an experience of cultural understanding, faith and fun. The next youth day is to be held July of next year in Sydney, Australia.
"I've always really wanted to go to Australia with lots of Catholic teens and meet other people there too," said Michelle Blemker, 15, a kid from St. Marry Magdalene Church in Camarillo, who is planning on making the trip.
Here in Ventura County, Padre Serra Parish, St. Mary Magdalene church, and Holy Cross Church in Moorpark are fundraising to send kids to the event on the far side of the world. The travelers have a lot of work ahead of them, for between the three churches are 45 kids and chaperones at a cost of $4000 each.
The children and parent chaperones at Padre Serra Parish in Camarillo have been running babysitting services, spaghetti dinners and pancake breakfasts after mass to raise money.
"I've been watering my friend's yard, making time cards for my uncle's company, storing cans and bottles for the recycling center and little jobs I get offered," said Blemker.
"I've been baby-sitting for many of my neighbors and friends...I want to meet people of different cultures and see the Pope," said Michela Bifulco, another exited teen.
At Holy Cross Church, many parishioners participated in a "park and pew" raffle during Easter. The winner of the raffle won a reserved parking spot at the crowded Easter mass right in front of the church and a reserved pew.
"My daughters [Carol and Michelle] have jobs and we agreed that if they can raise half the money, my husband and I will pay for the other half for the trip," said Nancy Craig, a volunteer at Holy Cross.
Jack Redmond, a creative fundraiser came up with the "Honey-do" idea. Parishioners from all three churches call in the World Youth Day kids to do chores around the house such as window washing or dish cleaning to help them raise money for their trip.
The Amazing Race will take place on Aug. 25 at 1 p.m. at Constitution Park in Camarillo.
The race is open to everyone, joining is $50 per team member though sponsorships are available. To sign up, or to donate money, call Debbie Folino at 377-0150.

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James Ellias

camarillo , CA

James Ellias has posted 81 stories and 1 comment since joining on 6/15/2007. James Ellias 's average story rating is 3.31.

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