Photo by James A. McBride
Father George C. Seiter, pastor of Holy Eucharist Parish, Cherry Hill, stands with Gina Winters who works with parish youth.
CHERRY HILL — Super Bowl Sunday was more than just football this year for Gina Winters; it was also Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday for the Cherry Hill Food Pantry.
Souper Bowl of Caring is part of a nationwide food drive to stamp out hunger and Gina, as part of her youth ministry at Holy Eucharist, involved the youngsters by collecting primarily non-perishable food items for families in Cherry Hill.
“Everybody has a good time and it’s a great experience for the kids,” she said.
Food is collected for pantries around the country during Souper Bowl of Caring. That’s why Gina said she likes the local campaign — because it helps Cherry Hill families.
She was an active member of Queen of Heaven Parish for seven years where she was catechist, teaching eighth grade religious education.
For the past three years she and her family have been parishioners of Holy Eucharist Parish. Gina said. “It wasn’t until I went to Holy Eucharist that I got involved with the youth ministry. Father George Seiter introduced himself to the parishioners in an article in the Sunday bulletin. He listed various things he wanted to do, one of which was the formation of a Holy Eucharist Youth Group.
“I called Father Seiter,” Gina said, “and asked him to let me know when the ministry was going to start because I wanted to become involved.” She mentioned her religious education experience.
That was in the spring of 2009. She was a stay-at-home mom with her son John who was almost 2 years old, so she felt she had the time to devote to the ministry. She had quit her full-time job to raise John.
“I had worked with the State Legislature for 6 and a half years through the non-partisan state office of Legislative Services,” Gina said. “But I resigned when I had my son.” She has a Master’s Degree in public policy and a Bachelor’s Degree in political science, both from Rutgers University.
In the fall of 2010 the ministry was formed and she became a youth minister. In the meantime, she had a daughter, Julia, who was a year old in March.
“This is my third year as youth minister,” Gina said. “We run the Holy Eucharist Youth Group on the school calendar.” About 30 youngsters, on average, attend the group’s meetings.
“She has been great in her ministry,” said Father Seiter. “She’s filled with energy and excitement and is doing a great, great job.”
She’s also a lector. And since the youth group is essentially part-time, it allows her to stay home with her children.
Gina’s husband Kyle takes an active part in his wife’s stewardship, by watching the children while she attends the youth ministry activities.
“This ministry is very successful,” said Gina. “We run all kinds of things for students in grades 7 to 12.”
One of the more popular events is an overnight retreat. This year it was held at St. Joseph the Worker in Haddon Township with St. Rose of Lima of Haddon Heights also in attendance. Some 25 students converged on St. Joseph on a Friday, later went to St. Mary Catholic Home (Cherry Hill), and were involved in Eucharistic adoration, confession, and Mass.
“Next year we’ll host the retreat,” Gina said, adding that the retreat included three parishes “so the youngsters could get to know one another.”
“The older students plan the retreat for the younger kids to inspire them to do something on their own,” Gina explained. “The younger students mature and prepare for future ministries in the church. They first attend the retreat as eighth graders, and then prepare the retreats as 10th graders.”
From June 28-30 four members of the youth group will be at the Steubenville High School Youth Conference in Steubenville, Ohio, as part of the Infant Jesus Youth Life 2013 Summer Pilgrimage, Gina announced, adding “We’ll all be going by bus.”
The Holy Eucharist Youth Group is on Facebook (www.facebook.com/heyouthgroup) complete with photos and up-to-the-minute information.
“It’s a good place to post pictures and comments and to tell everybody about our activities,” Gina said, “which includes our service to the parish, skating parties, pizza parties, and the work we do with the Cathedral Kitchen. It also tells about the hayride we had last October complete with marshmallows and hot dogs roasted over a fire. We could be doing another one this fall. The Facebook page helps to establish fellowship. And most of the kids’ parents are friends.”
Spring and summer plans call for an afternoon retreat for confirmation for all eighth graders. Gina noted that there will be a pro-life walkathon on June 1 at Cooper River Park with the Pro-Life Ministry.
The youth ministry also includes a youth music group that works with the music director of Holy Eucharist twice a year to provide music at Masses. The three-year-old music group includes guitarists, drummers, and saxophonists.
“Kids get involved in worship and it gives them a chance to become part of the liturgy,” said Gina. The next appearance of the music group will be April 20 at Holy Eucharist’s 5 p.m. Mass.
“This is a great way for the parish to interact with the musicians and singers and the entire Holy Eucharist Youth Group,” Gina added.
For more information on stewardship contact Deacon Russell Davis, Office of Stewardship, at 856-583-6102.
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
