Good Samaritan Project: More Than Service
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...When Kaito, a teen from St. Paul Catholic Church, first agreed to participate in the Good Samaritan Project (GSP), a weeklong summer youth service program in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, he saw it simply as a way to complete service hours.
When Kaito, a teen from St. Paul Catholic Church, first agreed to participate in the Good Samaritan Project (GSP), a weeklong summer youth service program in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, he saw it simply as a way to complete service hours.
Little did he know, it would become a transformative experience that would lead him into the Catholic Church.
“GSP was kind of my turning point,” he shared. “I was formerly an atheist, and becoming Catholic was a slow progression, but also a ramping up, and GSP was basically my big sign.”
The Good Samaritan Project is hosted at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School and organized by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. This year, the program welcomed a total of 371 teens, chaperones, and young adult leaders including 14 seminarians who took turns joining throughout the week.
Kaito first attended GSP in 2024, encouraged by his sister who had gone the year before. He felt the Lord calling him to something more.
“Initially, it was for service hours, but I was also kind of hoping there would be some sort of answers given to me as I continued exploring my faith, and God answered,” Kaito said.
He recalled the day he officially entered the Church as both nerve-wracking and deeply meaningful.
“It was very nerve-wracking, but I was also very excited to finally be able to let my arms not be crossed and put them out in front of me for Communion to receive the Body of Christ.”
The Good Samaritan Project isn’t just making an impact on the people being served, it’s changing the lives of those serving, too.
“I heard about GSP through our seminarians and thought it could be something cool to do for the summer,” said Yankee Salas-Tuz, a project team member who helps with behind-the-scenes work.
“I came in thinking I’d be helping the teens, mentoring them. But after spending the whole week here, I realized the help came to me. GSP actually helped me grow spiritually, especially in prayer. Before GSP, I was struggling to sit in prayer. But being part of this community and talking with Sister Ana Chiara helped me discover the joy that others were finding here at GSP.”
Through service, prayer, and community, the Good Samaritan Project continues to reveal that it’s not just about the work being done, it’s about the hearts being changed.
The Good Samaritan Project is made possible thanks to contributions to the Catholic Ministry Appeal. To learn more or to make a contribution, please visit www.dosp.org/catholicministryappeal.
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