During Super Bowl weekend in January, over 30 teens from St. Bernard Church in Bellflower held their own "SouperBowl," a 30-hour fasting retreat for charity that raised over $400 for local homeless services.

The participants began fasting on Friday afternoon and on Saturday began the retreat where they participated in workshops and lectures on Catholic social teaching where they discussed the stereotypes and causes of homelessness. The retreat leaders used several games and activities to illustrate "that life sometimes hands us some hard things that are out of our control," said Nancy Longo, director of St. Bernard's youth ministry program.

The students later formed teams and went out to local neighborhoods to collect food and clothing for the Elizabeth Ann Seaton Family Shelter in Long Beach. The students personally delivered the items to the shelter and met the families residing at the shelter said Longo.

"Our hope is that this retreat helps our teens and parents understand some of the reasons for homelessness and poverty on our neighborhood and the world and what our call from God is," said Longo.