By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

UNION TOWNSHIP - Alex Lampe wants to reach a greater understanding of her faith, and next week, she'll look for that understanding in another country.

The 15-year-old and 12 other members of St. Veronica Parish's youth group will travel from Clermont County to Ecuador for a mission study. They raised more than $20,000 to pay for the 17-day trip.

"I wanted to learn about another people, another culture. Experience our religion from their perspective and see how they worship," Lampe said. "I'm getting to meet people and understand our shared religion and how it connects people."

The Rev. Joseph Bragotti has been taking youth to Ecuador for years to stay with fellow Comboni Missions priests in the country. The group will see everything from the capital, Quito, to villages of Indians.

"I made it clear we weren't going to save the world in one fell swoop, that this is a learning experience," Bragotti said. "It's meant to give them a cross-cultural experience out of Anderson Township (where Comboni is based locally) and into the wilds of Ecuador."

Sheila Stewart, the coordinator of youth ministry for St. Veronica, said she hopes the teens, ranging in age from 15 to 19, will see the value of religion for people in the poorest of places.

"Many of the places we'll visit only have Mass once or twice a month. I think it's really going to impact them to see how important it is to the people there that they experience the sacrament," Stewart said. "Seeing the Combonis work, I also expect they'll find a strong respect for the vocation of the priesthood and sisterhood."

Tony Huesman, the oldest in the group, is also looking forward to talking with people his own age.

Peace concert

Paulette Meier has been teaching children about peace since 1994. That led the singer and songwriter to compile a compact disc called Come Join the Circle, music she used to teach themes of communication, tolerance and understanding.

On Sunday, she'll perform music from the CD with the Chorus of Young Peacemakers, a diverse group of children, to benefit a local peace group, Moms and Dads for Peace.

The concert, at 3 p.m. in the at the Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship, 4229 Brownway Ave., Oakley, is free and open to the public, with the proceeds of a free will offering going to Moms and Dads for Peace.

To submit religion news, e-mail kvance@fuse.net or send a fax to 755-4150.