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Episcopal volunteers enrich Hudson County institutions

Spike Enzweiler
By: 
The Rev. Alexander Santora / Jersey Journal

[Jersey Journal] I recently stopped by the Hoboken Shelter and was greeted by a nice, young man in the reception office.  I since have run into him on the streets of Hoboken and just assumed he worked there, which he does.

But Spike Enzweiler, 24, is a volunteer with a relatively new program called Newark Acts, run by the Episcopal Diocese of Newark.  This year, he and three other young adults are spending at least one year, and perhaps two, in a Hudson County institution.

"Newark Acts is a service-learning program for young adults that emphasizes social justice, community service, spiritual formation and communal living," according to Kaileen Alston, the Director of Young Adult Ministries for the diocese.

Kurt Houwen is a teacher's aide at the Episcopal Day School and Charles Andrews, an office assistant at HOPES, both in Hoboken.  Daniel Santiago works in the office at the Visiting Homemaker Service of Hudson County, located in Jersey City. 

Each of them works daytime Monday through Friday and lives together at the former St. John's Episcopal Church rectory in Union City. Their residence costs, transportation and health care, if needed, are covered by the diocese. They receive a $535 monthly stipend the first year; it goes up $100, the second year.