PORTLAND — Catholic Charities of Maine’s Parish Social Ministry has welcomed over 20 teens from the Sacred Heart Parish youth group in Hawroth, N.J.

The teens are in Maine for a week to give back to the community through various service projects.

“We simply act as a conduit connecting them where there is a need so they can make a big impact even during their brief stay,” said Parish Social Ministry Director of Mission Mike Smith.

The group of high school students will work for a variety of organizations while in town, including Catholic Charities’ SEARCH program; Our Lady of Perpetual Help in North Windham; The Community of the Resurrection in Otisfield; and Island Trails and the Fort Williams Park Association in Cape Elizabeth.

This is the group’s seventh year of performing a community service trip. In the past, they have done hurricane clean-up, outreach to the isolated and elderly, and worked on a dairy farm.

The Rev. Stephen Fichter accompanies the group.

Local events include:

Fort Williams, Cape Elizabeth: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 29. The group will help out with groundskeeping and celebrate an outdoor Mass.

The Community of the Resurrection, Otisfield: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 30. The group will help with groundskeeping, then have a closing Mass and a picnic with the Sisters.