Our Mission:

The Operation Appalachia Ministry at Notre Dame is a dedicated group of skilled and unskilled adults and youths who spend one week of their own time each summer repairing homes in Preston County, West Virginia. Projects include patching leaky roofs, replacing broken windows, painting, plumbing, flooring, and many other home repairs.

In return for their efforts, the team brings home a great sense of satisfaction in helping to improve the living conditions of the county's poor and elderly. Our volunteers often gain a valuable lesson from those they have helped - gratitude for what they have been given. It is an honor and a pleasure to be God's hands amongst His children.

This summer marked our 27th trip to Preston County. In return, the team brings home a great sense of satisfaction in helping to improve the living conditions of the county's poor and elderly, as well as learning some valuable lessons from those we have helped.

How We Get To our destination...

Throughout the year adults and youth involved in the Operation Appalachia come together to plan for events that help raise funds for the trip.  The two major fundraisers are:
o    The sale of Alternative Christmas Cards
o    A Beefsteak Dinner/Tricky Tray in the Spring.
We also rely upon contributions from members of the Parish, corporations, and other private donors.  

If you would like to make a financial contribution, you may send it to our Parish Office, Attention: Operation Appalachia. Checks should be made payable to Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel - Operation Appalachia.

Upcoming Events

Next Meetings: Wednesday, July 5th and July 19th at 8pm in the parish hall. We will finalize details for our 2017 trip to West Virginia. Not that there are TWO meetings in the month of July to prepare.

Blessing and Packing before the Trip: Saturday, July 29th, 5:00 Mass. Please wear your 2017 OpApp t-shirt to Mass. Please bring your bedding, luggage and tools on Saturday which will be packed in the box trip Saturday after Mass and our pizza dinner.

Trip to West Virginia: Sunday, July 30th. Meet in the Notre Dame parking lot at 7:30 am. 

Return from West Virginia: Saturday, August 5th. We estimate our return to the Notre Dame parking lot at approximately 5-6 pm.

.

Planning for The Trip

Date of 2017 Trip: Sunday, July 30 to Saturday, August 5, 2017.

Suggestions: Please review the Individual Packing List and Team Packing List for reminders of dress guidelines and what to bring.

Key Changes:

• IMPORTANT: Due to rising facility costs, we must now ask for a $100 fee with each application. If this charge is in any way a hardship, please contact Julia or Dan Rizos at NotreDameOpAp@gmail.com. We do not want to let this fee prohibit anyone from attending the trip.

• Online forms are now available. Please click HERE to download the form. Paper forms are also available during the meeting or may be picked up in the parish office.

• Registration forms should be handed in by July 1st, allowing time to plan teams.

• Background check must be completed prior to attending Virtus for anyone who will be 18 or older at the time of the trip and who has not already done these. Please see information below for details.

• IMPORTANT: Please read the Updated Paterson Diocese Code of Conduct and the .Wheeling-Charleston West Virginia Sexual Abuse Policy
  Policies and Guidelines

Before applications may be received, we have a number of guidelines and requirements:

• Volunteer Throughout the Year: Fellowship is at the heart of our ministry, and fund raising is the only way we can afford the materials, lodging and transportation for our week in West Virginia. We encourage everyone to attend meetings and help with our fund raising events and efforts.

• Age Requirement: Anyone 16 years or older may participate in the trip to Appalachia without an accompanying parent or guardian. For those under the age of 16, you must be entering at least the 9th grade by the September following the trip.

• Background Checks: Required for anyone 18 or over, or anyone who has not had a background check completed within the last three years. A new online process is available for background checks. Please contact our Faith Formation Office at 973-538-1358, Ext. 121.  The background check must be completed before attending Virtus. You may schedule both at the same time, but you must have the background done prior to VIRTUS.

• Virtus Training: Required for anyone 18 or over who has not already taken the training. To find an upcoming Virtus training, click HERE. You may learn more about the Protecting God's Children at Paterson Diocese site or the Virtus site. Pre-registration to a Virtus session is required. As Virtus training is only given a few times a year in our area, it is important to register and attend as soon as possible.