Mission Trip to Camden

In the face of such pervasive poverty amid the underclass of our wealthy nation, how are we, as Catholics, called to respond? GRAYCE is providing the opportunity to travel to Camden, NJ to help confront the issues that divide us from our brothers and sisters in need. With a prayerful spirit we will serve in a variety of ways: school programs, food shelves and soup kitchens, migration & refugee services, women's and homeless shelters, and centers for people afflicted with AIDS. Our focus during this mission will be both to meet immediate needs and to provide a ministry of presence. There will also be daily discussion, reflection, and prayer.

Our group from GRAYCE will be volunteering in Camden starting Saturday, June 23 and returning on Sunday, July 1, 2007. Please consider joining us. This web page exists to provide information about the trip, to help you decide whether to sign up, and for those of you who have already signed up, to find out more about the trip.

Where will we stay? We will stay at the Romero Center, an urban retreat and education ministry of St. Joseph-Pro Cathedral Parish in East Camden, New Jersey. We will sleep in separate rooms of 3-4 men or women. Mattress, cots, and sheets are provided. Towels and laundry are not. We are recommending that you also bring a sleeping bag.

Where to eat? Three meals a day are provided by the Romero Center where we are staying. The lunch meal is a sack lunch, made in the morning and brought to the work site. Some sites will provide their own lunches and will not require a sack lunch.

Where is Mass? On the way there and back, we will just choose a place near where we spend the night. Once in Camden, we will have the option of attending daily Mass early in the morning at St. Peter's, a nearby church.

Transportation? Road trip with God!!! Jesus take the wheel, I'm tired. On this trip we are content with travelling together by car, using whatever vehicles we have available.

Directions please? Keep in mind everyone will be carpooling together. Each car will have a copy of the directions, and each car will also have a road atlas. All of the cars will stay together, so that no one is lost from the group. Here is a summary of the directions, one-way, starting in Rochester.

Take I-90 E towards Chicago. Take I-80 E across Indiana and well into Ohio. Take I-76 E across Pennsylvania. Merge onto I-76 E via EXIT 326 toward I-476 / PHILADELPHIA / US-202 / Valley Forge. Keep LEFT to take VINE ST EXPY / I-676 E / US-30 E via EXIT 344 toward CENTRAL PHILADELPHIA. Take the exit toward I-676 E / US-30 E / BEN FRANKLIN BRIDGE. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto N 6TH ST. Merge onto I-676 E via the ramp on the LEFT toward I-95. Take EXIT 5A toward M L KING BLVD / CAMPBELL PLACE. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto FEDERAL ST. Turn RIGHT to stay on FEDERAL ST. End at 2907 Federal St, Camden, NJ 08105-2229, THE ROMERRRRO CENTER, finally!

And that takes... 18 hours. Needless to say, we will stay overnight halfway in between and split the journey between two days.

The Romero Center's mission is to build bridges of understanding between people of faith in urban and suburban churches, leading people to a deeper awareness of our prophetic vocation, as we respond to our sisters and brothers in remarkable need.

How we will help. We will participate in a variety of activities throughout the Camden area reaching out to the people, engaging in ministry, both of action and of presence. Activities will vary from day to day including preparing meals for the hungry, working with pre-school children, renovating abandoned houses, and visiting with people with AIDS. All you need is a positive attitude to go out and help accomplish something for the good of others. Please don't get your heart set on any one particular activity, because the truth is we are are there to serve and we will do what we can that is needed most.

What else will we do? Reflections and educational opportunities will be facilitated by the Romero Center staff. We are also looking into the possibility of having daily mass and worship music. None of it is certain yet. The only thing we are sure of at this point is that lots of people in Camden could use our help.

Free time? After evening dinner and reflection, we have free time. Don't expect to schedule too many things during the free time. Most people will probably use their free time to relax and unwind. Wednesday evening will completely free, and we are encouraged to check out the nearby city of Philadephia.

As compensation to the Romero Center for food, housing, and programs during our week long stay, the recommended donation is $265. The GRAYCE mission trip fund will cover the costs of transportation and overnight stays in transit.

If you aren't able to attend but would still like to help out, please know that we welcome donations to the GRAYCE mission trip anytime. Make your check payable to GRAYCE and drop it off at the GRAYCE holy hour or mail it to:

        GRAYCE Camden Mission Trip Signup
        915 23rd St SE
        Rochester, MN 55904-5683

You are expected to pay for the food you purchase on the way there and back, plus any additional food you purchase apart from the provided meal plan.

For those driving, fuel costs are reimbursed.

Materials are provided by the agencies we are working with.

We're makin' a list. And checkin' it twice. Bring what you want, this is just our advice

1. First and foremost: You, and your loving spirit of service!
2. Your young adult Catholic friends
3. Some food for the journey, or money to purchase it
4. A sleeping bag or blanket (cots are provided), towel and wash cloth
5. Toothpaste, contacts, flashlight, sunscreen & such
6. Several changes of clothes, including some you don't mind getting dirty. Most sites prefer jeans or long pants, t-shirts, closed-toe shoes. Some sites are okay with shorts, mid-thigh length or longer.
7. Sandals or flip-flops may be worn around the Romero Center.
8. A journal

What not to bring...

1. No shirts that expose the shoulders or midriff.
2. No radios, Ipods, Walkmans, portable CD players, Gameboys, TVs
3. Don't bring any valuables or a lot of money.

Between June 24 and 30,the average high in Camden is 85 and the average low is 64. Please keep in mind these are only averages. Expect some variation from the averages, and pack accordingly.

There is a possibility that Larry DiPaul from the Romero Center will come and speak to the group in May, but that's kind of late. So please direct your questions to stephanie@grayce.org and nathan@grayce.org.

Frequently Asked Questions...

Who is behind this trip? This effort is being led by Stephanie and Nathan on behalf of GRAYCE.

How many volunteers can you take? I've been told don't worry about that at this point. So, we aren't going to worry about it.

More questions and answers will be added here as people ask them.

We are so excited you'll be joining us!

Please fill out the following sign-up form with some information to help us get in contact with you. As a reminder, please make sure to schedule Sat June 23-Sun July 1 off from work.

If for any reason you experience difficulties with the sign-up form, you may sign up by email instead: info@grayce.org