Huge Numbers Turn Out to Support Evins Youth

Photo: Volunteers take time out to talk to youth on center 

court at Evins.

“It was amazing to see the transformation and change in the attitude of the kids as they started, and towards the end of the retreat.”   --Ernesto Duran, Evins Volunteer and Christ on the Cross team member for the Acts Retreat.

     EDINBURG, Texas -- You could sense something was brewing at the Evins Regional Juvenile Center (Evins) on a Thursday afternoon when a huge U-Haul truck entered the gated youth correctional facility.  Once it made its way around the corner towards the cafeteria, a group of volunteers wearing blue t-shirts with Christ on the Cross Juvenile Ministry on them followed and quickly unloaded musical sound equipment, tables, water, boxes of snacks, soft drinks and other fixtures.Within an hour, the cafeteria was transformed into a makeshift chapel with an altar and other religious symbols adorning the big area.

Thirty-five team members representing many sectors of the community descended on Evins for a four-day Catholic Acts Retreat on Nov. 9-12 with 30 youths who had volunteered and been preselected. Throughout the retreat the schedule included games, skits, scripture, singing, testimonials and youth feedback.   The team of men, who spent months training and preparing for this retreat, ranged in ages from 18 to 78. 

“It takes a lot of funds, work and effort to put a team together", said Fidel Garcia who manages the volunteer program at Evins. "They met for weeks and weeks just to get it right and train the new team members on every facet of the program. This takes them away from work and family during training, meeting days and leading up to the actual retreat.”

 Out of the 30 youth selected 26 youths remained on the team when the event was over on Sunday afternoon.  “That is remarkable and a good sign that the youths were entertained, and having fun while learning,” Garcia said. 

During the retreat, kids are assigned to work with team members at each table.  After discussing a lesson and at times having the youth and team members participate in skits, one of the youths is selected from each table to report on what he has learned. As the day progresses, the youths take turns giving reports.

“Everyone gets an opportunity to participate and give their feedback," said, Chaplain Alvarado who oversees the religious programming on campus. Lots of music is provided throughout the day so that youth can participate and feel the spirit of God and get them excited to participate. 

Lucio Garza, who has served on four retreats and this time as director said, “All the retreats are special because we get to share God’s message and love with the youth. We let them know and show them that there is someone out there to support them.”

Throughout the day, young people get to eat home cooked meals and a variety of snacks.  In addition to the volunteers that actually work on campus, a group of select volunteers work behind the scene preparing and cooking each meal.  With the assistance of the Catholic Dioceses of Brownsville the Neumann Center, which is across the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, is utilized to cook and box each meal.  Volunteers transport the meals to the Evins center to be served to all youth, volunteers, and staff at the retreat. This takes a lot of effort and coordination. 

“Many times we don’t even get to see these volunteers, but, they are a big part of the retreat also,” Garcia said.  In addition, to these volunteers, a special group of 53 additional community volunteers were on hand on Saturday evening at the candlelight ceremony to encourage and congratulate the youth for having participated and completed the retreat. 

One community volunteer who attended the ceremony was Aida Resendez. “It was the first time for me attending an event at Evins and it was something different and exciting to see this youth interested in becoming servants of God.  It was a wonderful experience,” she said.

Eighteen year old (Evins) youth Cesar said, “I was grateful for all the volunteers that were able to attend and teach us about God and how to live a better life. I really liked the people coming in and offering their own testimonials.  I could really relate to them.”

Another 18-year-old (Evins) youth, Uriel, <Hernandez> said that he would encourage other youths to participate, “…because it’s super fun and you learn a lot.”

The members from the Christ on the Cross Juvenile Ministry also try to get outside younger men to participate as team members as the youth can relate to them and look up as role models. One such youth was David Duran, 18, son of volunteer Ernesto Duran, who was serving alongside his father as a team member.  By the time the retreat was over he had a totally different outlook toward the youth at Evins. 

"Upon arrival to the retreat, I was a bit nervous and worried, thought that the kids wouldn't care what we had to say and they would just be there for the food, but as the days passed I realized that the food was becoming less important for them and at the end most of them really wanted to learn more about their religion," Duran said.

Evins Superintendent Tamu Steptoe summarized the volunteer’s participation throughout the year when she said, “Even the smallest things that the volunteers provide to the youth have such a big impact on their lives. The volunteer’s service is priceless.” 

In October, volunteers provided meals for family members, held a Christian concert, sponsored a Thanksgiving meal for family visiting the youth and preparing for the upcoming Christmas holidays.  The next retreat scheduled is an Epiphany weekend for non-denominational youth in February 2018.