Strangers become neighbors on Global Encounter
Students learn that to lead is to serve, from Worcester to Ecuador.
Global Encounter is a signature Campus Ministry program at Saint John's, and has been rapidly growing in popularity over the years. 2017 is a banner year for SJGE, which over the course of February and April breaks will have sent over 70 students, faculty, and staff to work with service organizations around the country and across the globe.
A Ministry of Presence
James Halloran '18, Ross Hamilton '18, Harin Lee '18, Joshua Loiselle '18, Brent Masters '17, Patrick Mead '18, Griffin Millette '17, Daniel Murphy '18, Jack Murphy '18, Kush Patel '18, John Washburn '17, Ms. Stephanie O’Donnell, Mr. Peter Richer '11
Going "off-the-grid" from technology for the week, the students who traveled around the region through various community outreach programs, truly immersed themselves and encountered members of the community.
Durán, Ecuador's Rostro de Cristo, the host agency, translates to "the face of Christ” and encourages visitors to see Christ's face of love and friendship in all people. Students and teachers had the chance to do that over the course of their transformative week. As the group would learn, the focus of Rostro de Cristo programs is not to bring people from the first world to the third to do manual labor, but to build relationships between North and South Americans, leaving lasting impacts on both the Saint John’s students and the many people who opened their community.
Camden, New Jersey
Luke Anastasi '18, Michael Bernard '18, Parker Browne '17, Keegan Ernest '18, Michael Joe '17, Michael Keohane '18, Brendan Rocco '18, Jacob Saulnier '18,
Robert Wickstrom '18, Shawn Yeboah '17, Mr. Kevin Abdo, Mr. Robert Heald '05
The Camden crew also immersed themselved in a ministry of presence with their community. Visiting nursing homes and disability centers, and engaging with community food programs and soup kitchens, ten students and two faculty members truly got to know their neighbors.
This team joined with Xaverian Brothers High School and Ursuline Academy at the Romero Center for a week of community-building and new friendships. Check out pictures of their week here.
Final night in Camden! Thanks to @RomeroCenter and @XBHS @UrsulineAcademy for an incredible trip! #globalencounter #camden2017 pic.twitter.com/gc1mkCsd1S— SJ CampMin (@SJCampMin) February 24, 2017
Grand Goave, Haiti
Ryan Daly '17, Andrew Estella '17, Thomas Feraco '17, James Griffin '17, Mark Grigas '17, Thomas Heath '17, Patrick Johnson '18, Kameron Kamel '17, Kepei Lei '17, Stephen Mountzouris '17, Matthew Petry '17, Dawson Ritchie '17, Ian Seymour '17, Tyler St. Pierre '17, Matthew Stansky '17, Matthew Williams '17, Mr. Michael Foley ’07, Mr. Michael Nicholson, Mr. Timothy Williams
Since 2013, dozens of Pioneers have trekked to a small but vibrant community in earthquake-stricken Haiti to work with an organization with local roots. The Be Like Brit orphanage provides homes and assistance to the region that has been devastated by poverty and natural disasters. Groups from Saint John's have been working with the people of the community for many SJGE trips. Though the days building two houses and laying a foundation for a new building at the orphanage were long and arduous, the SJ guys definitely had time for some fun with the residents of BLB, young and old. Find more pictures of their work and play here.
Regional Encounters to Worcester, Providence, and Manchester, New Hampshire will head out to more local service sites in April, giving underclassmen interested in this burgeoning program a chance to participate in this unique experience. While they are encountering their local neighbors, juniors and seniors will spend a week at the farm - Bethlehem Farm in West Virginia. There they'll learn about sustainability and what it's like to live a truly communal, faith-filled life with others.
Learn more about Global Encounter and many other Campus Ministry programs here, or by following @SJCampMin on Twitter for the day-to-day happenings.
Learn more about Global Encounter and many other Campus Ministry programs here, or by following @SJCampMin on Twitter for the day-to-day happenings.
