Appalachia Service Project -
St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish
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St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Appalachia Service Project (ASP) has been around for over 20 years. Our Parish ASP is more than a trip to Appalachia to repair buildings – it is a service project built on relationships:
- Meaningful interactions with the families we serve.
- Teamwork among our crews.
- Getting to know and work with ASP Staffers.
- Meeting other folks in the county we serve.
In the best circumstances, this is a tough week, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually – though it is not surprising that many teens count the ASP trip as the best week of their year! It is also an awesome week, having new experiences, meeting some beautiful individuals, getting to know yourself more deeply. Recognize that this is not “Camp ASP” this is a Mission Trip, and participants should expect to experience some conditions that will be outside of their comfort zone!
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2026 ASP Trip Dates and Registration
- TRIP DATES - Saturday, July 18 to Saturday, July 25, 2026
- Registration links can be found at the bottom of this page - Whether you are new to ASP or not, please read the material on this page before registering.
- ATTENTION - Teen registration has reached capacity. Any registrations after 3 PM on October 18th will be added to a waiting list. We are still in need of many adult volunteers!
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ASP’s Mission and Vision
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VISION – Appalachia Service Project is a Christian ministry, open to all people, that inspires hope and service through volunteer home repair and replacement in Central Appalachia.
MISSION – Appalachia Service Project envisions the eradication of substandard housing in Central Appalachia and the transformation of everyone who comes in contact with this ministry.
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Formation for ASP 2026ASP is a big commitment - There are many other things going on in each of our lives. However, ASP is a commitment that you are choosing to join. As such, once you complete the registration, you are committing to be present, involved and responsive in the work of trip preparation.
Our trip and week in Appalachia are very different from our regular lives. Therefore, we hope that each of our formation experiences help to guide and prepare you for this new encounter. Throughout 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.
There will be three formation meetings, a Skills Day, a Commissioning Mass and a Final Preparation Meeting.2026 Schedule - Attendance at Formation Meetings is Mandatory
All meetings take place at McDonough Hall - 1101 Columbian Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302- Kick-Off Meeting - Sunday, November 2, 2025, 6:30 PM
- Formation Meeting # 1 - Sunday, January 25, 2026, 6:30 PM
- Formation Meeting # 2 - Sunday, March 8, 2026, 6:30 PM
- Formation Meeting # 3 - Sunday, May 3, 2026, 6:30 PM
- Skills Day - Sunday, June 7, 2026, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM (in St. Giles Church Parking Lot)
- Commissioning Mass - Sunday, July 12, 2026, 5:00 PM (at St. Giles Church)
- Final Preparation Meeting - Sunday, July 12, 2026, 6:00 PM
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Financial Commitment for TeensThe total financial commitment for the 2026 ASP trip is $850 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 will be opportunities to donate your time and talent in fundraising towards your trip cost. Letter-writing to your network of relatives and family friends is the #1 most effective fundraising approach. We encourage that and have templates below to help with that.Teen Fee Schedule
If you would like to divide the trip cost into two payments, the schedule is listed below. All fees are non-refundable after each due date.- Initial registration fee due upon registration - $375 (registration will not be considered complete without payment of this initial fee)
- March 8, 2026 - $475
If payments and fundraising credits received prior to July 1, 2026 exceed the $850 cost, your family will have the option to donate the overpayment or receive a refund. Funds received after July 1, 2026 are non-refundable.
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 [email protected] as soon as possible. Any request for assistance is kept private.
> Instructions for Soliciting Donations (PDF)
> Fundraising Letter Sample (Word)
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Role of Adult Leader
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This trip would not be possible without the generosity of our Adult Leaders’ time and talent, who co-partner to lead work crews. If your teen is planning to attend, this is a wonderful opportunity to have a truly memorable shared service experience with them as an adult participant. Please note that parents and their teen will reside at the same center but will be assigned to separate work crews.
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!
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Financial Commitment for Adult Leaders
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The total financial commitment for the 2026 ASP trip is $375 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.
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 [email protected] as soon as possible. Any request for assistance is kept private.
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Communication and Coordination
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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.
- Our primary methods of communication will be email and texts through Flocknote, our parish communication system. Please be sure to check regularly for any updates about our trip, your individual status, and any changes that may arise.
- Please make sure to trust this email communication system in your email account by adding [email protected] to your safe senders list/address book and make sure we’re not on a blocked senders list/spam filter.
- All changes, updates, and information will be posted on this ASP page.
- Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.
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2026 ASP Registration
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ATTENTION TEENS - Teen Registration for ASP is FULL as of October 18, 2025 and NEW registrations will be added to the Waiting List - Applicants submitting their registration after 3:00 PM on October 18th will be notified if there are cancellations allowing you to be removed from the Waiting List.
> ASP 2026 - Teen Registration
> ASP 2026 - Adult Leader Registration
Current High School Juniors and Seniors with prior trip experience are welcome to apply as a Teen Leader. Please submit your Teen Registration before submitting your Teen Leader Application.
> ASP 2026 - Teen Leader Application
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ASP Payments and DonationsPAYMENTS - You can pay the installments electronically through our GiveCentral account by clicking the button below. This link is also provided by email upon registration. Alternatively, if you would like to pay by check, please make your check payable to "St. Giles ASP" and drop it off to the Parish Center (1025 Columbian Avenue) to the attention of 'ASP 2026 Trip'.
> ASP Registration Payments through Give Central
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 use the second button below.
> Click to DONATE or Sponsor an ASP Participant
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