Honduras Mission Trip
The Mission of Mercyhurst challenges students "to think critically, to comprehend the richness of our global community, and to work for positive change."
Less than 12 hours after the graduation ceremony, five Mercyhurst College seniors began a journey to Honduras to do nine days of international service. Following a tradition started in 2000 by the late Sister Kathleen Marie Leap, the five seniors, six underclassmen and two staff from Mercyhurst left Erie May 22, for San Pedro Sula, an industrial city in Honduras with a population of nearly 600,000. There, they worked as missionaries in Chamelecon, a barrio of the city.
Sponsored by the offices of Service Learning and Campus Ministry, Sister Michele Schroeck, RSM, director of service learning at Mercyhurst, and Pat Benekos, the college's director of information technology led 11 students May 22-31.
The Mercyhurst group worked with Maryknoll Father Thomas Goekler and Sister Betsy McMillan, RSM, a Sister of Mercy. While in Chamelecon, the volunteers did construction work along with former gang members from the colonia. They laid cement floors, cleared lots with machetes, knocked down walls, varnished furniture for the community center and tutored children in Spanish and English. During the evenings the group participated in discussions about environmental, social and economic issues. They also visited ministries sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy including Casa Corazon, an aids hospice for children and Dream Weavers, a women's cooperative.
"We're doing this to continue the legacy that Sister Kathleen started four years ago and because the students who come back have told us that this trip was a life-changing and life-direction event for them," Schroeck said. Two former participants returned to Honduras on their own for independent study.
The group accepts supplies and donations.
Checks can be made payable to:
Fr Tom Goekler's Caminando Por La Paz
c/o Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers
Dept. WEB
PO Box 307
Maryknoll, NY 10545-0307