Introduction

Every year members of the Catholic Campus Ministry go on a mission trip, either during spring break or in May after the semester is over.  We usually bring about 15 students and travel to places that need light maintenance/construction and/or painting.  We fundraise throughout the year by having a bagel sale and dinner at the Church, and by writing to our home parishes and other organizations asking for donations.

The trip is a wonderful chance to put our faith in action.  We can concretely help those in need and witness to the faith.  It also helps us to understand how blessed we are.  

In 2010, we will return to Jarabacoa to continue working on the chapel started in 2009. January 2011 will have a team going to Haiti.


2009 Mission Trip

We returned again to Jarabacoa where we saw the chapel that was completed last year and began work on a new (even bigger) chapel in a small village outside the city.  We stayed with the wonderful Delgado family and ate lunches with families from the community, getting to know the people we were working with. More reflections and pictures to follow... :)

Photos Here!!



2008 Mission Trip

We returned to Jarabacoa to help complete the chapel and fix up the homes of the poorest residents.

Reflection from a member of the 2008 mission team:

My trip to the DR was an unforgetable experience. The Dominican community, the scenery and the food were incredible. As an aspiring teacher, I really enjoyed going into the elementary school and teaching the children some English phrases. Working on people's homes was an incredible experience and it was amazing to see the "before" and "after." Also, it was amazing to experience a Mass in the chapel that we built. One thing that sticks out in my mind is walking up and down hill and lots of it. We hiked to the top of a hill that overlooked the city, we hiked to the top of another hill to work on a home, up and down another hill carrying large pieces of wood, and down to a gorgeous waterfall. Strenuous but well worth it. Also, The Dominicans were so hospitable. They offered us everything they had and were so thankful that we were there. I will never forget the faces of the smiling children.
Erica DeLibero
Mission Team 2008

2007 Mission Trip
March 17- March 24

For Spring 2007 sixteen of us went to Jarabacoa in the Dominican Republic. We built a chapel in the campos (countryside) called Las Guazaras, near Jarabacoa.  This is the area where one of our former members Maritza lived as a child.  She wanted to go back and help her community, so she helped set up the mission trip.
Our trip had a lot of difficulties, including flight delays from bad weather and lost luggage, but despite this we tried to give our all to the project.  The money we raised was used to construct a small church in the community.  It will also serve as a storm shelter.  We helped mix cement, move concrete blocks, and generally assist the masons in their work.  By the time we left the main walls were complete, and we even had Mass there with no roof.  Of course it started raining!  



2006 Mission Trip
March 18-26

The Mission
We went to Queretaro, Mexico, to the El Puente de Esperanza, I.A.P. (Bridge of Hope) mission.  The mission cares for 24 youth between the ages of 15-22.  These young people come from very poor home conditions with a low level of education.  The home helps them to acquire skills that will enable them to go on to higher education.  Since their parents are not able to afford to pay for this program, the youth and parents sign a contract to come to El Puente.  Each youth has to work at the house to help pay for room and board.

We stayed at El Puente, shared out cultures with the students through some delicious meals, and helped them move their computer room and library so they can rent out part of the building.

We also worked at the San Idelfonso mission (also part of the ministry of Puente de Esperanza).  San Idelfonso is a small town located about an hour from Queretaro.  It is an outreach to the indigenous Otomi Indians.  They offer after school programs to help children with their homework, learn life and decision-making skills, Christian values and self discipline.  Many of the children come from homes with alcoholism and spousal abuse and where there is no father figure.  Many of these people are so poor that they lack any type of routine or schedule to eat, bathe, etc.  They eat when they have food. Children, who qualify, would be able to go from this program to El Puente in Queretaro.

We painted the houses of three mothers who had been abandoned by their husbands.  The houses are made of cement, so until we came the walls were bare and gray.  We also bought the supplies to paint two more houses.

We sent almost $3000 of extra fundraising money to help both missions, including paying for one woman to have a water pipe come to her house so she doesn't have to walk down a hill to the well.

Fundraising
Writing to our home parishes and organizations for donations.
Bagel sale at St. Joseph's:  Had 800 bagels and sold out, raised about $1800.
Latino Night:  Had a good crowd, good food, and meringue lessons.




2005 Mission Trip

In 2005 we went to Montana where we worked on the Cheyenne Indian Reservation.  We cleaned the Church, moving around all the chairs and statues so we could vacuum and shampoo the rug. We washed windows and dusted everything. Then we primed and painted three offices, a hallway, a kitchen, a meeting room, and two bathrooms. Whew!
We also got to go to Mt. Rushmore, hike up Bear Butte, see the Deer Medicine Rocks, go to the Battle of Little Bighorn, go to a sweat lodge, and go to the school prom.
So we were very busy.




2004 Mission Trip

In 2004 we went to Banica, a little town in the Dominican Republic.  We helped build little chapels so the priests could say Mass in the countryside.