Regional Encounters offer more local service
A new tradition of service has taken root at Saint John’s!
During April break, many students now have the opportunity to participate in Regional Encounter service days.
Groups of students, along with faculty and administrators, work with various organizations in the New England area. This year, students spent time in Worcester, Providence, and Manchester, New Hampshire.
Director of Admissions Dr. John Morse ’89, Principal Dr. Jacob Conca, and English teacher Ms. Lauren Hill accompanied sophomores Banafo Abbeyquaye, John Barcomb, Patrick Craemer, Alex Dailida, Joe Haddad, Ross Hamilton, Matt Korzec, Patrick Mead, Mitchell Sampson, and Jason Stateham.
Manchester, NH
While in Manchester on the first day of 2016 Global Encounter: Regional , students visited the Holy Cross Learning Center where they met people from around the world and helped refugees from Bhutan/Nepal, Sudan, Congo, and Iraq learn how to use computers, count American money, and speak English. The group also visited the Families in Transition organization and helped sort merchandise for the thrift store that aims to house homeless children and families. They also spent some time at St. Anselm College and attended noontime Benedictine prayer.
Providence, RI
The following day, Dr. Conca joined the group to Providence and the Little Sisters of the Poor Jeanne Jugan center, a home for the elderly. Students cleaned the dining room, set up the outdoor patio furniture and cleaned it for the spring season, and went to mass with the residents. Later on, the group helped Providence Rescue Mission set up for their chapel service, organize the thrift store, sort food donations, and clean. PRM offers a myriad of services for people who are struggling with addiction, homelessness, and mental illness.
Worcester, MA
Staying closer to home on the final day of this year's "Regional Encounter," students visited Great Brook Valley in Worcester, assisting in providing childcare at a low-cost or no-cost daycare facility that serves the greater Worcester area before cleaning several cemeteries across the city where the group weeded, raked, and mulched.
Check out pictures of the 2016 Global Encounter: Regional group in action around New England.
You can learn more about Campus Ministry service opportunities throughout the year here!
