Free The Prisoners
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Organize a service trip to a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Connect with a brother, sister, priest, or lay person who sees service and justice as an important part of his or her life and work. Ask him or her to come with the young people.

Before leaving or volunteering, invite a speaker from the agency to speak about the agency's mission and the social problems it confronts. Make it clear to the students how they will make a difference by participating in the service experience. Orient them to their specific roles and jobs during the service experience.

Ask students before the service to share the expectations and images they have regarding the service they will do and the people they will encounter. Challenge them to be aware during the service whether their expectations and images are challenged or confirmed. Introduce the brother, sister, or priest and ask him or her to explain why he or she sees this type of service important to life.

After the service experience, follow this discussion format.

What did you like or dislike about the experience? What people or incidents stand out in your mind? How did it confirm or challenge your expectations or images?

Read Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7

Explain that God calls all baptized persons to involve themselves in specific problems in our world. We are literally called to learn about the "prisons" that trap people and let our work to "free" others shape our own futures - whether we are single, married, ordained, or religious. We do this not just for their freedom, but for ours. Share (or ask the guest speaker to share) how much more fulfilled your or his or her life by putting this Scripture passage into action.

Challenge students to let this experience change them so that they continue to learn how they can make a difference, how they can, as they grow older, help "free" people from this type of "prison." Make the connections between their comments, their future choices and various vocations.

End by praying for the people the group served. Listen to We Shall Be Free , by Garth Brooks, Liberty Records, or Go Light Your World , by Kathy Troccoli, Reunion Records.

Invite the brother, sister, priest or lay person to return on another day and answer specific questions about his or her vocation and its connections to the service experience.