![Mendham teens return from life-changing mission trip to Appalachia #Catholic - Forty-six teenagers and 22 adult chaperones from St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Mendham, N.J., recently returned from a weeklong mission trip to Paintsville, Ky., where they participated in St. Joseph’s 18th annual Teen Appalachia Mission Trip from June 21 to 27.
Partnering with Good Neighbors, Inc., a Paintsville-based nonprofit, the group completed critical home repair projects for families in need. The organization serves working families who do not qualify for government assistance, connecting them with volunteer groups, such as the St. Joseph mission team. In exchange for home repairs, participating families commit to financial literacy training and are encouraged to “pay it forward” by helping others in their community.
This year’s projects included repairing roofs, constructing home additions, installing drywall, replacing flooring, and completing other essential improvements that enhanced the safety, comfort, and stability of local homes.
While the physical work made an immediate impact, the mission also focused on building meaningful relationships. Volunteers shared meals, conversations, and time with the families they served, creating connections that extended beyond the construction projects.
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“This trip gives our teens the opportunity to build meaningful relationships while living out our God-given call to serve our sisters and brothers in need,” Mark Tosso, youth director at St. Joseph’s said. “It strengthens the sense of community within our parish and creates lasting connections with the wonderful families we meet in Kentucky.”
Avery Draeger, a junior at Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown, N.J., said, “Throughout this experience, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude and purpose.”
“In Paintsville, I felt that I strengthened my relationship with God, my peers, and the family and community in which we were helping. Giving these families back a sense of security to return to a safer home was an opportunity of a lifetime,” Draeger said.
Max Cirillo, a junior at Delbarton School, also in Morristown, agrees.
‘My experience on the mission gave me the opportunity to reflect internally and externally, form new relationships with peers and the families we were helping, and to grow in my faith with God, all while gaining an appreciation for the little things that are taken for granted every day. It was incredible!” Cirillo said.
“The Appalachia mission is truly one of a kind,” adds Mendham senior Max Krolikiewicz. “The lessons that we learn on the trip are truly something that I will remember forever. I feel that I build so many bonds with new people while strengthening my bonds with those I have already built. The strongest bond that I have built is my relationship with the Lord. There are so many ways that he is felt and seen in the work that we do, and it really has helped me to go beyond my faith and continue to want to pursue it.”
And it was not just the teens on the trip that benefitted, said parent chaperone and trip director Scott Cirillo of Mendham.
“The opportunity to be part of this mission on behalf of St Joseph’s is a privilege. It fills my bucket every year. Our time together and the work we do for deserving families in Paintsville, Ky., is grounded in our faith and knowledge that the Holy Spirit has brought us there to share the gifts God has given us. The overwhelming gratitude and response from the families we serve that we were an answer to their prayers says it all,” Cirillo said.
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mendham-teens-return-from-life-changing-mission-trip-to-appalachia-catholic-forty-six-teenagers-and-22-adult-chaperones-from-st-joseph-catholic-parish-in-mendham-n-j-recently-returned-from-a-we.jpg)
Forty-six teenagers and 22 adult chaperones from St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Mendham, N.J., recently returned from a weeklong mission trip to Paintsville, Ky., where they participated in St. Joseph’s 18th annual Teen Appalachia Mission Trip from June 21 to 27.
Partnering with Good Neighbors, Inc., a Paintsville-based nonprofit, the group completed critical home repair projects for families in need. The organization serves working families who do not qualify for government assistance, connecting them with volunteer groups, such as the St. Joseph mission team. In exchange for home repairs, participating families commit to financial literacy training and are encouraged to “pay it forward” by helping others in their community.
This year’s projects included repairing roofs, constructing home additions, installing drywall, replacing flooring, and completing other essential improvements that enhanced the safety, comfort, and stability of local homes.
While the physical work made an immediate impact, the mission also focused on building meaningful relationships. Volunteers shared meals, conversations, and time with the families they served, creating connections that extended beyond the construction projects.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“This trip gives our teens the opportunity to build meaningful relationships while living out our God-given call to serve our sisters and brothers in need,” Mark Tosso, youth director at St. Joseph’s said. “It strengthens the sense of community within our parish and creates lasting connections with the wonderful families we meet in Kentucky.”
Avery Draeger, a junior at Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown, N.J., said, “Throughout this experience, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude and purpose.”
“In Paintsville, I felt that I strengthened my relationship with God, my peers, and the family and community in which we were helping. Giving these families back a sense of security to return to a safer home was an opportunity of a lifetime,” Draeger said.
Max Cirillo, a junior at Delbarton School, also in Morristown, agrees.
‘My experience on the mission gave me the opportunity to reflect internally and externally, form new relationships with peers and the families we were helping, and to grow in my faith with God, all while gaining an appreciation for the little things that are taken for granted every day. It was incredible!” Cirillo said.
“The Appalachia mission is truly one of a kind,” adds Mendham senior Max Krolikiewicz. “The lessons that we learn on the trip are truly something that I will remember forever. I feel that I build so many bonds with new people while strengthening my bonds with those I have already built. The strongest bond that I have built is my relationship with the Lord. There are so many ways that he is felt and seen in the work that we do, and it really has helped me to go beyond my faith and continue to want to pursue it.”
And it was not just the teens on the trip that benefitted, said parent chaperone and trip director Scott Cirillo of Mendham.
“The opportunity to be part of this mission on behalf of St Joseph’s is a privilege. It fills my bucket every year. Our time together and the work we do for deserving families in Paintsville, Ky., is grounded in our faith and knowledge that the Holy Spirit has brought us there to share the gifts God has given us. The overwhelming gratitude and response from the families we serve that we were an answer to their prayers says it all,” Cirillo said.
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
Mendham teens return from life-changing mission trip to Appalachia #Catholic –
Forty-six teenagers and 22 adult chaperones from St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Mendham, N.J., recently returned from a weeklong mission trip to Paintsville, Ky., where they participated in St. Joseph’s 18th annual Teen Appalachia Mission Trip from June 21 to 27.
Partnering with Good Neighbors, Inc., a Paintsville-based nonprofit, the group completed critical home repair projects for families in need. The organization serves working families who do not qualify for government assistance, connecting them with volunteer groups, such as the St. Joseph mission team. In exchange for home repairs, participating families commit to financial literacy training and are encouraged to “pay it forward” by helping others in their community.
This year’s projects included repairing roofs, constructing home additions, installing drywall, replacing flooring, and completing other essential improvements that enhanced the safety, comfort, and stability of local homes.
While the physical work made an immediate impact, the mission also focused on building meaningful relationships. Volunteers shared meals, conversations, and time with the families they served, creating connections that extended beyond the construction projects.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“This trip gives our teens the opportunity to build meaningful relationships while living out our God-given call to serve our sisters and brothers in need,” Mark Tosso, youth director at St. Joseph’s said. “It strengthens the sense of community within our parish and creates lasting connections with the wonderful families we meet in Kentucky.”
Avery Draeger, a junior at Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown, N.J., said, “Throughout this experience, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude and purpose.”
“In Paintsville, I felt that I strengthened my relationship with God, my peers, and the family and community in which we were helping. Giving these families back a sense of security to return to a safer home was an opportunity of a lifetime,” Draeger said.
Max Cirillo, a junior at Delbarton School, also in Morristown, agrees.
‘My experience on the mission gave me the opportunity to reflect internally and externally, form new relationships with peers and the families we were helping, and to grow in my faith with God, all while gaining an appreciation for the little things that are taken for granted every day. It was incredible!” Cirillo said.
“The Appalachia mission is truly one of a kind,” adds Mendham senior Max Krolikiewicz. “The lessons that we learn on the trip are truly something that I will remember forever. I feel that I build so many bonds with new people while strengthening my bonds with those I have already built. The strongest bond that I have built is my relationship with the Lord. There are so many ways that he is felt and seen in the work that we do, and it really has helped me to go beyond my faith and continue to want to pursue it.”
And it was not just the teens on the trip that benefitted, said parent chaperone and trip director Scott Cirillo of Mendham.
“The opportunity to be part of this mission on behalf of St Joseph’s is a privilege. It fills my bucket every year. Our time together and the work we do for deserving families in Paintsville, Ky., is grounded in our faith and knowledge that the Holy Spirit has brought us there to share the gifts God has given us. The overwhelming gratitude and response from the families we serve that we were an answer to their prayers says it all,” Cirillo said.