Giving hope (and faith) to those without
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- July
- 23
I spent a fascinating morning recently at the Children’s Village, a residential treatment center in Dobbs Ferry. The place is home to about 300 boys and teens who come from troubled backgrounds, sometimes deeply troubled backgrounds.
I was there to see the Rev. Colleen Holby, the director of pastoral care. In September, she will celebrate her 30th year as a chaplain at Children’s Village.
I sat in on morning Bible study and listened to a half dozen kids talk about their recent experience at a summer camp run by a Christian youth ministry (one of Holby’s pet causes). Then I talked to her about her job, her vocation.
It’s not easy work. She has seen a lot. “We never have a boring day around here,” she told me.
I talked to Holby about what she tries to give the boys who wind up at CV. It comes down to a few things: real relationships (which some of the boys have never had), a reason for hope, and a spark of faith.
She takes her job seriously and loves it. My article about her will be in the Journal News/LoHud soon.
Holby is national president of a group called the National Chaplains Association for Youth-at-Risk. When the group gets together, do they have some war stories…
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 at 1:40 pm by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
