Students disconnect from tech during service trip in Appalachia

Oratory Prep recently concluded a week-long service trip for six students and their mentors at Nazareth Farm, a Catholic community in Salem, West Virginia. The trip underscored the Summit Catholic school’s commitment to spiritual development through hands-on service trips and community engagement.

Oratory Prep students Tim Callahan, Julian Toth, Aidan O’Dowd, Griffin Umphrey, Brody Henderson, and Francesco Lo Grippo participated in the faith-based service retreat. The goal of the trip was to foster deeper spiritual and personal growth. Father Matthew Dooly, Oratory Prep’s chaplain, and Joseph Seebode, a biology and earth science teacher, led the group.

The trip marked Oratory Prep’s inaugural visit to Nazareth Farm in Appalachia. It began with an orientation day and community-building activities among high school groups from across the country.

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Students repaired homes and tutored youth

Throughout the week, students engaged in various service projects, including home repairs, demolition, and volunteer work at a local school. Guided by Nazareth Farm staff and volunteers, students also participated in evening reflections on Catholic social teaching and communal prayer.

Prayer was a central feature of the trip.

 “Each day begins with prayer, each worksite begins and concludes with prayer, and in the evening there is an opportunity to learn more about Catholic social teaching and reflect on the day’s experiences,” said Father Dooly. “The prayer is communal and invites sharing, which often is a new experience for some of the boys.”

Callahan, a senior at Oratory Prep, attended the trip so he could become closer with his classmates. He is part of the school’s Campus Ministry team and serves as a Eucharistic minister at the school. He is also part of the St. Phillip Neri Service Club, which continues the legacy of doing good in the world by responding with charity to the cry of the poor, the lonely, the ill, and the marginalized. Although he is no stranger to community service, Callahan said the trip taught him about the importance of giving back.

“I am not too good for anybody,” he said. “Just because someone has less money than someone else does not mean they should be viewed differently.”

Callahan said he especially felt God’s presence during the group prayer sessions every evening. Listening to others gave him a new understanding of how God works in the lives of others, he said.

“I realized I didn’t need to stress about finding God in a specific moment,” he said. He noted that God was guiding him to appreciate his time away from outside pressures and live in the moment.

LoGrippo, also a senior, noted that it was rewarding to spend a week with like-minded students “who wanted to serve God and have a positive impact on the lives of others.”

“What I learned from this experience is that I can focus service on simple acts in my community.” he said.

Restricted access to technology

The retreat encouraged students to focus on meaningful interactions and immerse themselves in their surroundings by disconnecting from technology. On the first day of the trip, the boys turned in their cell phones and other personal devices, including watches. Nazareth Farm encourages volunteers are to fully embrace simplicity. Participants not only forego modern technology for the week but also avoid keeping track of time.

This aspect of the trip, according to Father Dooly, was the “most challenging” for the students, even more than the physical labor at the worksites.

Father Dooly described the absence of technology as a “gift of simplicity.”

“The freedom from the distraction of social media allows the students to be present to one another, considerably more aware of the area and the nature around them,” Father Dooly sai. He added that it “truly opens them up to the workings of the Holy Spirit.”

Umphrey, a senior who is also a member of the St. Phillip Neri Service Club, said he learned to appreciate “the simple things” during the trip. He also learned the “value of being present with others.”

“Living without technology for a week helped me focus more on the moment and connect better with the people around me,” Umphrey said. “It gave me time to think about what’s really important and deepened my spiritual growth.

“This trip deepened my faith and made me realize that spending time with the people around you, even if you don’t know them, is important,” Umphrey added. “It also inspired me to continue serving others in need.”