Announcing Love Strong, the 2023 ASP theme, based on Luke 10:27 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and Love your neighbor as yourself.” This connects deeply with ASP’s core value of “accepting people right where they are and just the way they are.” When we accept all people, share God’s love with them and embrace them as neighbor – we become those who Love Strong.
We are happy to report that St. Giles’ will again fully staff 2 counties for ASP. As soon as we learn which counties we will be working in, we will share more information on this page and via Flocknotes and Instagram.
If you are still interested in the 2023 ASP trip, contact ASP@stgilesparish.org ASAP.
IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS FOR ASP 2023
- Trip Dates – July 22 to July 29, 2023
Online Form – ASP Teen Application
Online Form – ASP Adult Leader Application
ASP Crew List (PDF)
Read – Expectations for ASP Teens (PDF)
Read – Expectations for ASP Adult Leaders (PDF)
Read – ASP Facts – General Brochure (PDF)
Instructions for Letter Writing Campaign (PDF)
Sample of ASP Participant Fundraising Letter (DOC)
ASP Fee Payments through GiveCentral
Click to DONATE or Sponsor an ASP Participant
ADULT LEADERS
We are still in need of Adult volunteers – the trip can’t happen without you! The role of an adult leader on ASP is critical to the success of our trip. The total financial commitment for the 2023 ASP trip is $275 per adult. This fee is due at registration and no other payments will be expected prior to the trip. In addition, you will need to pay for the following meals: lunch & dinner on Saturday of departure, lunch on Sunday following departure & breakfast on Saturday of the return trip. We estimate adults spend about $100+ on those meals as well as ice cream during the week of ASP
Online Form – ASP Adult Leader Application
FORMATION – ASP 2023
As a reminder, in preparation for the trip, there will be formation meetings, a skills day, and a commissioning mass. ATTENDANCE AT FORMATION MEETINGS IS REQUIRED. If for some reason you are unable to attend a formation meeting, please make a concerted effort to reach out to either your teen or adult leader, trip coordinators and / or crew to review the meeting materials… and to further crew connections!
Upcoming Schedule – Location at McDonough Hall – 1101 Columbian Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
- Formation Meeting # 2 – Sunday, March 5, 2023 – 6:30 pm
- Formation Meeting # 3 – Sunday, May 7, 2023 – 6:30 pm
- Formation Meeting # 4 – Sunday, June 11, 2023 – 6:30 pm
- Sunday, July 16, 2023 – 5 pm Commissioning Mass, immediately following mass Q&A Session for Teens, Parents and Adult Leaders.
- Skills Day – TBD – Required for all new participants, recommended for all others.
- Adult Leader Meeting – Week of July 16, 2023, to finalize details and preparation for the trip.
COVID PROTOCOL (UPDATED – 2/7/2023)
All ASP volunteers will be required to test negative for Covid using any CDC approved rapid antigen tests, within 24 hours of their trip. Each participant will be required to confirm a negative test on July 22, 2023, the day of our departure
For the safety of both the volunteers and the homeowners we serve, St. Catherine – St. Lucy and St. Giles will require volunteers to have received their primary series of Covid vaccinations (Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech or Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen). In addition, all volunteers age 65+ OR considered high risk are required to be up to date on booster vaccinations in accordance with the latest CDC Vaccine Guidance.
Click for More Information
COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION
There is nothing more effective than having our ASP group on the same page and moving towards the same life-changing goals. To adequately prepare for this trip together, communication and coordination is key.
- ASP 2023 will be led by volunteer Trip Coordinators: Frank Hulefeld (fhulefeld@comcast.net or 708-308-4678) and Erich Krumrei (ewkrumrei@gmail.com or 312-206-4245)
- Our primary methods of communication will be email and Flocknotes. Please be sure to check your email regularly for any updates about our trip, your individual status, and any changes that may arise.
- All changes, updates, and information will be posted on this ASP page.
- Please contact the Trip Coordinators or Chris Goetz (asp@stgilesparish.org or 630-677-5424) if you have any questions or concerns.
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT FOR TEENS
The total financial commitment for the 2023 ASP trip is $775 per teen. This fee covers room and board for the week (7 nights lodging and 17 meals), cost of van rental, materials to complete home repair, etc. All meals are included except for the lunch and dinner on Saturday of departure, lunch on Sunday following departure and breakfast on Saturday of return trip. We estimate each teen spends about $100 on those meals as well as ice cream during the week of ASP.
There are many ways you can work to fundraise for your trip. See links above to the letter writing campaign along with sample letters, etc.
We have created a payment schedule that must be met to participate in the 2023 trip. All fees are non-refundable after each due date.
- Initial registration – $275 (due with registration)
- February 1, 2023 – $175
- April 1, 2023 – $175
- June 1, 2023 – $150
If your contributions from your fundraising are received prior to July 1, 2023 and exceed the $775 cost, you are eligible for a refund of the additional funds. Funds received after July 1, 2023 are non-refundable.
NEW FOR 2023 – SIBLING DISCOUNTS – One parent free with 2+ siblings – If 2 siblings register for the trip, a parent’s registration cost is $0, or if a parent is not registering, then each sibling’s trip fee will be discounted to $600 (from $775).
No teen willing and committed to participating will be denied the opportunity due to the financial commitment. If the cost or payment schedule is a barrier to participating, please contact Chris Goetz, ASP Board President, at asp@stgilesparish.org as soon as possible. Any request for assistance is kept private.
ROLE OF ADULT LEADER
The role of an adult leader on ASP is critical to the success of our trip. As an adult leader, you can expect to:
- Support your teen leader in their role as leader, communicator, and organizer of your crew before, during, and after the trip.
- Encourage inclusivity by making every teen feel warmly welcomed, valued, and appreciated.
- Communicate effectively with center staffers regarding construction projects, evening programming, and other ASP logistics.
- Build a community with your crew by fully engaging in the ASP trip from the start of the formation process to the end of the trip – your attendance is critical in supporting the bonding of your crew.
- Embrace the simple life that is core to ASP – challenging yourself to be flexible with the simple food, activities, and chance to unplug from the technology that so often takes over our lives at home.
- Share your skills – construction, interpersonal, and leadership – but also be willing to learn and grow from those around you!
- Ensure safety by making sure your crew is safe and is following the ASP safety guidelines on and off the work site.
- Be present and supportive of the growth and transformation of the members of your crew.
- HAVE FUN being part of this unique community that build strong, authentic, and lasting relationships!
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT FOR ADULT LEADERS
The total financial commitment for the 2023 ASP trip is $275 per adult. This fee is due at registration and no other payments will be expected prior to the trip. In addition, you will need to pay for the following meals: lunch & dinner on Saturday of departure, lunch on Sunday following departure & breakfast on Saturday of the return trip. We estimate adults spend about $100+ on those meals as well as ice cream during the week of ASP.
NEW FOR 2023 – SIBLING DISCOUNTS – One parent free with 2+ siblings – If 2 siblings register for the trip, a parent’s registration cost is $0, or if a parent is not registering, then each sibling’s trip fee will be discounted to $600 (from $775).
No adult willing and committed to participating will be denied the opportunity due to the financial commitment. If the cost is a barrier to participating, please contact Chris Goetz, ASP Board President, at asp@stgilesparish.org as soon as possible. Any request for assistance is kept private.
ASP DONATIONS
Please help support ASP! – We appreciate any support, if you’d rather donate directly to ASP at St. Catherine of Siena – St. Lucy and St. Giles click on this link:
Click to DONATE or Sponsor an ASP Participant
Click to see PICTURES of our Trip 2022
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED FOR OUR 2022 TRIP!
Registration is due with a $275 non-refundable registration fee for ALL participants.
For over 20 years, adults and teens from this community have been working together in fellowship and home repair to make homes in Central Appalachia warmer, safer, and drier!
FORMATION MEETINGS
In February, we will begin formation experiences that help to guide and prepare you for this new encounter. At these meetings, we get to know the members of our work crew, grow in our understanding of the spirit of service, and learn about the people of Appalachia and their needs and how we will meet them. In preparation for the trip, there will be four formation meetings, a skills day, and a commissioning mass.
Meeting Times: 6:30 pm
Location: McDonough Hall – 1101 Columbian Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
MEETING DATES
- Formation Meeting #1 – Sunday, February 27
- Formation Meeting #2 – Sunday, April 3
- Skills Day – Weekend morning-afternoon in April – TBA (Required for all new participants, recommended for all others)
- Formation Meeting #3 – Sunday, June 26
- Commissioning Mass – Sunday, July 17 at 5 pm
- Formation Meeting #4 – Sunday, July 17
2022 TRIP DETAILS
The trip will be held from Saturday, July 23 through Saturday, July 30, 2022. We depart on a Saturday at 8 am and return the following Saturday at about 7:30 pm.
Teen participants must be currently in high-school. Current 8th graders, who will be entering high school are not eligible to apply for St. Giles ASP.
Adult Leaders must be over the age of 25 and with a valid drivers license.
To reserve your spot, please complete the online application and submit your payment. Details are provided in application!
ASP Online Registration
If you have been on ASP before and are interested in applying to be a teen leader, the application on the Google form below will be available by November 1st and need to be completed by December 1st.
Teen Leader Registration – GOOGLE FORM
