SJP Members Serve in Camden, NJ

This past weekend, ten students and two faculty chaperones had the opportunity to travel to Camden, NJ for a service immersion trip. For four days, students participated in the Urban Challenge Program, which is run by the leaders of the Romero Center. Each day of the weekend focused on a different Catholic social teaching and helped the students to reflect and experience service through the lens of those in need.

After arriving on Thursday and getting some sleep, students traveled as a group to the Food Bank of Southern New Jersey. They spent the day checking and sorting food, as well as packing donations for families. Saturday’s service saw our students at two different elderly care and rehabilitation centers: Abigail House and Genesis Center.

“As soon as we got there, I bonded almost immediately with a patient named Sodrida,” remarked Armani Monteiro ’17. “She was so sweet and kind... we became best friends!”

Hannah Burke ’17 also had a memorable experience in Camden. “For me, taking what we learned about Catholic social teaching in Theology class and then applying it in a real-world situation was inspiring. It made me want to make it more a part of my daily life.”

After a commissioning service on Saturday night and attending Mass at St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral on Sunday morning, they headed to neighboring Philadelphia for a quick Philly cheesesteak stop before heading back to Boston.

Students and chaperones were thankful for the experience and inspired by a quote on the wall of the center that reads, “So you say you love the poor, name them.” The group is looking forward to living service in their daily lives in accordance with Catholic social teachings.

We are grateful to the entire team who made the journey, served our “dear neighbor” and continue to shine like beacons of hope for our community and our world: Hannah Burke ’17, Caroline DiPalma ’18, Colleen Dooling ’20, Lily Fabrizio ’18,  Briana Hamilton ’20, Thomas Hanna ’20, Armani Monteiro ’17, Kate Nee ’19, Sanaya Panthaki ’20, Julianna Parker ’18, and our faculty chaperones Ms. Beach and Ms. Hughes.