By Emily Molinaro

When Maddie Sellers learned that the Catholic Campus Ministry’s 2011 Spring Break Mission Trip would be in Kingston Jamaica, at first she was skeptical. “I wasn’t sure we would have the motivation and means to make it happen,” said Sellers, president of the Student Council.  “That is until I heard the trip was being planned with Fr. Tom McGann, C.M.F.”

The Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) is considered to be the training grounds for future Church leaders. According to Sellers, the mission trip to Jamaica was achieved thanks to Fr. McGann’s previous experience in the island. “Father Tom had been pastor in Kingston for many years and had connections that made the trip possible.”

At first, Sellers felt intimidated, especially when she thought about the cost of such a mission, but over time she discovered that the trip to Jamaica was possible.  The Franciscans hosted the CCM group at their convent in Kingston. 

“The convent where we stayed was a paradise. Not just because of its beauty, but because of the stillness. Nothing there reminded me of the fast paced living of college. No English papers, no four hour chemistry labs, no deadlines, no pressure to perform,” said Cody Moore, a freshmen from CCM. “When all these distractions fell away, it was easier to recognize my purpose in loving other people.”

Among the highlights of the trip was visiting and working at Jacobs Well. Jacob’s Well is a place managed by the Missionaries of the Poor, who work with the poor and mentally disabled. At Jacob’s Well students helped with anything the brothers needed, including cleaning the building and helping the poor with such things as washing their hair or trimming their fingernails. “This was one of my favorite experiences. We got to see each other in different capacities. We don’t always get to see each other minister like this,” Sellers added.

“My faith grew by witnessing the love of the people in their hard situations and from watching the brothers work every day with mentally ill people,” said Matthew Dawson, a CCM student.

For Sellers, the trip led her to two realizations. “I realized how diverse and beautiful the Catholic Church is. I got to see the Catholic Church in action in an entirely different country,” Sellers said. “We got to interact with two different religious groups.  Both had different missions but they were united. No matter where you are in the world, the Catholic Church may be experienced in a different way but we are united in Christ. Everything we experienced reminded me about the diversity of the Catholic Church, even when we attended Ash Wednesday services.”

The second realization for Sellers was how joy comes from working with and serving others. “The people we worked with gave us a lesson about happiness and where it comes from,” she said. “Sometimes it takes going to a new place where poverty is a reality to still see joy is possible.”

For reflection

What things bring you joy? Do you need material things to feel happy? What do you seek?