This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Answering the Call to Serve

On this episode of the Evergreen Park Show, we'll talk to Evergreen Park native Joe Ward, a senior at Marist High School, who's devoted his life to service.

To serve or not to serve: the answer was crystal clear to lifelong Evergreen Park resident , 18, who devoted himself to a life of service after an experience that changed his life.

Two years ago, Ward, a senior at Marist High School, went with the school missions team on a trip to Louisiana. While helping rebuild a woman's home that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, Joe said he knew right then that service was something he had to do for the rest of his life.

Today, Ward is the president of the Marist Youth Service Program, an active youth leader and Eucharistic Minister at his parish, Christ the King Church in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago. Since his New Orleans experience, he's transformed into a missionary, traveling several times a year with the school missions team to do service domestically and internationally.

Find out what's happening in Evergreen Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We will hear from a couple of influencers in Joe's life, who have seen his transition take place first hand: Father Thomas Conde, Pastor of Christ the King Church, and Brother Patrick McNamara, president of Marist High School.

Download the movie

Find out what's happening in Evergreen Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Evergreen Park