‘My kids’ bring tears

The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
26 October 2003

Meaning of life

Tuition fee jump

Award for Reservist chaplain

Outreach

Priests set priorities

Step behind the convent walls

Desire to serve others

Trial for euthanasia?

Interfaith

Seminar on self help in action for hearing impaired

Editorial: Enormous debt

Letters: Interstate appreciation

Conversation: Br Dan Stafford, chaplain to the Australian Jockey Club - A generous fraternity of 'saints and sinners'

Voice of Youth: Blessed upon the earth

‘Wonderful occasion’

Stone takes the cake

Bumper crop of students

Concert ‘journey’ by young honours Pope’s anniversary

‘My kids’ bring tears

‘My kids’ bring tears

The kids discovered that ‘when they are caring, others respond lovingly to them’

By Damir Govorcin

It is not often that Fr Chris Riley is reduced to tears. For 30 years, Fr Chris - founder of Youth Off The Streets - has crusaded for the rights of abused and disadvantaged children in our society.

He has heard their horrific stories of mental and physical abuse, but has had to remain emotionally strong to help rebuild the lives of the street kids he refers to as “my kids”.

However, he let his emotional guard down when he saw his kids offering love and support to children with disabilities during a four-day Service Learning Camp at Darling Harbour.

“I am emotionally tough, having worked in this field for 30 years and I have heard some of the most gruesome stories of abuse and pain,” said Fr Chris.

“I am not reduced to tears often, but seeing the beauty of our kids and the wonderful interaction they had with the disabled children was powerful and emotional.

“Our kids, because of their background, could well have given up on life, but here they were giving to others.

“They changed nappies on 12 and 13-year-olds, they showered and bathed them, played games and cared for them on a 24-hour basis.”

Fr Chris says the purpose of the camps is about “teaching our kids generosity and giving them a focus and a realisation that they can contribute to the world around them and make a positive difference”.

“Out of the camp our kids gained a sense of satisfaction that they can make a difference and when they are caring, others respond lovingly to them,” he said.

“They also became attached to the disabled kids, which is particularly important as many of our kids are attachment-wary.

“In one case, we were told that one of our boys would never be able to get close to anyone as his mother had been murdered and his father had died from a drug overdose. He wouldn’t trust anyone.

“But he grew attached to a disabled boy named Justin and remained by his side for the four days.”

Fr Chris added: “The four days of giving to others is more effective than 12 months of counselling.

“Often when kids enter counselling they are told that there is something wrong with them that needs fixing.

“The process of teaching kids generosity teaches them that they are valuable to the community and can contribute.

“It also reinforces that the most valuable thing we can ever do as human beings is to offer help to others.”

Fr Chris says he has received positive feedback from parents and hopes to run more camps in the future.

“One mother wrote to me and said it was the first time her son had been accepted by anyone who was not part of their family,” said Fr Chris.

“In every other setting, he had been belittled and called names which had distressed him.

“For the first time in their lives, the parents have a couple of days break. This is crucial as they have carried the load for years without support.

“Some of the kids with disabilities have outrageous behaviour and it takes a lot of patience to take care of them.

“But this is a program that our kids are deeply committed to and the disabled children become part of the Youth Off The Streets family.”

Donations to Youth Off The Streets can be made by ringing 8332 5008.