First Step Toward Rome
St. Luke’s to host car wash today to raise money for biannual pilgrimage
Trending
St. Luke's Episcopal Church youth won't be traveling to Rome for another year, but fundraising for the 2027 trip is starting today with a car wash at the church.
"We take a group of students in 10th grade and above," Jessica Frederick with St. Luke's said. "It's anyone who has been through our confirmation class that is welcome to participate. We walk from the ancient city of Vertubo to Rome, about 75 miles through the Italian countryside."
The route itself Frederick said pilgrims have been walking since the 700s, being the route people used to take from England that runs through continental Europe with a stop in Rome, and then people would continue on to the Holy Land.
Frederick said the walk averages 12 to 13 miles a day, and can be a transformative experience for the kids involved. Everything needed is carried on the backs of those participating.
"There's a lot of lessons involved; to trust yourself, to persevere ... to rely on other people too because you get through it together," Frederick said.
Upon walking away, Frederick said the students can look back during hard times, and think that if they could do something like that, they can get through the difficult time too. For many it is also their first time out of the country.
Friday's car wash fundraiser is to help fund the next pilgrimage, because while Frederick said they try to travel as simply as possible, it is not inexpensive to travel. They will stay in guest houses run by nuns usually throughout the pilgrimage, and while they try to keep costs low there is still a cost with it. Fundraising is done year round, with 14 kids going during the last two times. In preparation for next time she said they wanted to kick off fundraising strong, and in order to raise all the money needed they start now, also to make sure the cost is not a barrier for anyone.
The car wash fundraiser will be held on Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. People can enter at the Main Street parking lot, with a couple of stations set up. Car washes cost $8, and donations are also being accepted for a drive through experience for those who want to donate but do not want their car washed. The drive through experience is $15, and Frederick said donations in any amount are also accepted. Cars will then exit down Potters Alley to Fourth Street.
People should be interested in coming down if they are looking to support these international youth trips. While it is required to be in St. Luke's confirmation class to participate in the trip, Frederick added nobody is required to be confirmed. The point of the class, she said, is for young people to be able to begin to develop, articulate and think about their values and beliefs and decisions they will make for their lives. The class meets twice a month throughout the school year, asking specific questions about beliefs and values and how they are going to make life decisions based on those. Frederick added they do not say there is a right answer, though they will talk about historically what the church believes and has taught, for information purposes.
"Though this is a church fundraiser the whole idea is to support our young people, support their exploration of their faith, values, and beliefs, and furthermore support this life changing experience," Frederick said. "I know for some kids, the youth they go on the trip with have become very dear friends and they're supporting each other as they go through college."
Others learn a lot about themselves, so Frederick said it is all about supporting young people in the community. She emphasized that it is not about doing a car wash or raising money, it is about supporting young people in their life journeys. Youth group members will also be helping with the car wash, and she added this is about youth helping each other and having a good time, and is something people can do and feel good about to support young people.
One other fundraiser for the pilgrimage and for the church's youth fun events, that is also happening soon, but is for church members only is a flamingo fundraiser, where church members can buy yard flamingoes that will migrate to different people's yards.
"So that's just a thing, if you're driving around Jamestown and you see a yard with 100 pink flamingoes on it, it's another part of our fundraiser," Frederick said. "We try to keep our fundraising fun and creative and playful, so that's another thing we're doing this summer."
Flamingoes will begin appearing in lawns in August.