Church sends packages to troops

Children who participated in the Summer Catechetical Program at Christ the Redeemer ended their week with songs and ‘treats for the troops.?
Throughout the eight day-long program, the children, who ranged in age from first grade through fifth, learned about God while they did an assortment of crafts and learned how to sign several songs. Olivia LoGrasso, 7, said that it was hard to learn the sign language but she loved all of the songs.
The 120 children who were in the day session, along with the 90 from the evening, also worked on a project to support troops over in Iraq.
Each year the church does a large-scale project at the summer program. This year, the church was informed by the Pontiac Area Vicariate about a local Pontiac soldier who is over in Iraq. Senior Master Sergeant Scott Furnner is in charge of 172 men and women. He provided the church with a list of treats and items that he knew his troops would like to receive.
The children filled over 35 boxes for the troops with snacks, bug repellant and personal hygiene products, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving cream and deodorant. They also included drawings, cards and letters for the men and women.
In addition to that project, the children made over a dozen fleece blankets for the warming center in Detroit.
According to Marilyn Lines, the children’s program coordinator, the program ran smoothly with the help of over 30 volunteers, most of which had children involved in the program.
Anyone who missed the children’s performance is welcome to come to ‘Mass in the Grass? on Sunday, Sept. 9.
The outdoor mass begins at 11 a.m., with the children performing beforehand at 10:45 a.m.
Christ the Redeemer is located at 2700 Waldon Road.