Andrews Catholic Church hosts ‘back to school party’ for young people

ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) – The Catholic Church of Our Lady of Lourdes hosted a back-to-school party at Lincoln Center Park in Andrews.

The day was filled with food, games, and even a waterslide for kids and families.

Andrea de Luna, the church’s youth coordinator, is very involved in her faith and wants to help other adolescents who are feeling a sense of loss find their way through Christ.

“Before COVID and it all hit we had a pretty solid youth group, but I’ve always noticed this lack of teens or adult teens coming into youth because they start to lose their connection with God or christ and I went to see my first student an event. I mean 2-3 years ago and after that I was super excited. I was what is called a “Jesus rush” and I was like, “I can’t wait to show this to my peers,” de Luna said.

As the pandemic has made it difficult for religious followers to practice their faith, and the support of others can make the experience more enlightening.

“The fact that you can’t wake up and go to church on Sunday or go to your youth group on Tuesday or every night or activities. It struck a lot. It was very difficult for me in a way because I will definitely support other people but I need a lot of support in return to keep my religion, necessarily just to remind me that you are in his hands and that everything happens when you’re with him, ”says de Luna.

After a year of isolation, the organizers within the church were happy to see the young people come out and have fun before the start of the school season.

“It’s wonderful because a lot of our kids were really sad because there was nothing they could do in our church, but now that they are coming back to the classrooms and we are getting together we are seeing a lot more children. come out, then you know we are so happy to be able to do this for them, ”says Mary Alice Morris, Religious Education Coordinator for Our Lourdes Catholic Church.

“We are really happy to see everyone here again, especially after being stuck at home for a year. We can get everyone to come together again and hopefully get the ball rolling for more youth events this year, ”said Larissa Sanchez, a church youth minister.

For more information on how you can get involved in youth group events at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, visit here.

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