TEEN SERVICE WEEK (TSW) is a seven–day Catholic retreat opportunity. We are sponsored by Chicago area parishes, the Catholic Youth Organization, and the Office of Peace and Justice. We have been attending to the needs of the less fortunate in the Chicago-land area for the last nineteen summers. This summer, teens from the Chicago area will join with committed adults to volunteer at various social service agencies that serve the marginalized in our society due to political, social, economic or health concerns. The sites urge participants to work through old attitudes, fears and misgivings. Challenges abound but so do laughter and joy.

In addition to service, educational activities and time for personal and communal reflection, we offer participants the opportunity to become aware of and more personally invested in the values of peace and justice. Prayer and personal spiritual development are emphasized as crucial elements in stimulating such values. Simplicity and solidarity are seen as integral components to the experience of the week and a life long commitment to social justice.

We are asking you to publicize TSW to the youth and adults you work with and know. We’re looking for mature young men and women who are able to live well with others of diverse backgrounds, are open to learning and allaying their prejudices and biases, are physically and emotionally able to be of service, and have an emerging commitment to peace and justice issues. We ask that the young people have completed at least one year of high school and the adult team members be at least 21 years old. Please make copies of the enclosed applications and pass it along to interested teens and parents.

There are two levels of TEEN SERVICE WEEK, which will run simultaneously the week of June 27th – July 2nd, 2010. The enclosed letters at the beginning of each application describe the difference between these levels.