Taking the Plunge for 40 Years
By Mike Bonts
ORANGE PARK- For the youth at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Orange Park, St. Augustine is considered mission territory.
Forty years ago, St. Catherine’s began a close-to-home mission trip thanks to the inspiration of Msgr. Vincent Haut, former pastor of the Parish. He had a vision and hired the first ever full time Youth Minister in the Diocese of St. Augustine (DOSA). Her name was Mary Anne Dufresne.
One of the desires that he wanted was youth to do was a service mission Trip to another country to help those in need. Mary Anne had another plan in mind based upon her upbringing and working in an apartment building that her parents owned.
She knew that we had plenty of individuals right here in our own backyard that could use assistance.
Today, they celebrate 40 years of this service mission to St Augustine, which is known to parishioners as “Urban Plunge”. This Summer marks their 71st trip that has been run out of the Parish.
Urban Plunge was born out of a dedication to servicing local needs. The ministry is the longest continuous running service mission of the Diocese of St. Augustine.
Urban Plunge takes place in one-week increments, twice every summer. High school students split up into groups to take on different projects.
“Our relationship with the St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP) has been impressive and helped both groups bring joy, happiness and a better place for them to call home, a safe home for so many,” said Jay Heather, who coordinates and leads Urban Plunge.
His first trip was in 1989 while still on active duty in the Marines.
“I can’t say enough good things about the work and dedication of Urban Plunge. They truly heed the call to community service,” noted SJHP Executive Director Bill Lazar.
On the June trip there were twenty-eight teens (14 Adults), and they are scheduled to take thirty teens (19 adults) later this Summer. Urban Plunge completed forty-two requests for wheelchair ramps, yard maintenance, repairs and painting multiple homes including the SJHP central office.
There were many jobs, like, fixing soft spots in floors, building a deck for a disabled individual who is requesting a deck so he can have a place to strengthen his body.
They also did some additional jobs like major yard work along with several other job requests. Calls for help also came from the Council on Aging, Care Connection.
“We are so proud of the work we have done and will do for the near future. We absolutely could not have done this without the support of this parish and all the donations and meals that have been prepared over the years,” added Heather.
There are similar programs around, rooted in Urban Plunge’s desire to serve the community.
Back in 2017, Heather helped start a trip at the Diocese of St Augustine Interlocken / Palatka which now runs two of their own there and now also in Clay and parts of Duval County. Those trips are coordinated by Robin Shipley, DOSA Youth and Young Adult Director.
Over the years Urban Plunge has had almost 2,300 teenagers and over eight hundred adults giving of their time, treasures, and talents over four decades.
“Over my 36 years of involvement with this program I have reminded myself of this wisdom and so many other pieces of wisdom from this great leader, Mary Ann Dufresne,” Heather said.
