Members of the Grupo de Jovenes Renacer en Cristo at St. John the Evangelist Church presented Father Larry Duncklee with a $2,000 check last night during the Spanish Mass. The donation was the culmination of a summer-long effort by the youth group to raise money for their church.
“Our parish has a lot of needs and this money will help,” said youth leader Jeremias Boch.
The idea first came to them about four months ago, said Boch, and they started thinking of ways of how to help renovate the restrooms, cafeteria and other areas of the church facilities they say are sorely in need of some repairs.
After some discussion they organized two car wash events, one in July and another in August, which were tremendously successful.
“When we come together we can do great things,” said the soft-spoken Boch.
Sister Margaret Smyth, executive director of the North Fork Spanish Apostolate, was visibly proud of the group’s efforts.
“That’s my gang,” she said.
Father Larry Duncklee was also moved, saying that he was very grateful in behalf of the community and that the presence of each member of the youth group was even more important than the money raised.
Boch said they are planning to keep raising money for the church through different activities next summer.
St. John’s is conducting a capital campaign, launched last summer, to raise money for renovations and repairs.
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