From New Jersey to Alabama to Puerto Rico, Regis College students and staff this week will live out the mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston to provide service to the dear neighbor.
Service immersion trips, a foundation of Regis’ mission, culture, and community, return after a hiatus due to the pandemic. About 50 students and staff will travel to three different regions in the U.S. during spring break.
“It’s been wonderful to see all the ways the student and staff leaders have stepped up to prepare the groups and to feel the excitement building,” said Mary Lou Bozza, assistant director for the Center of Ministry and Service. “We’re so excited for the students to have these opportunities.”
Civil Rights Pilgrimage
One group of students will travel to Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia, all of which are important cities in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Among the sites the students will visit include the Edmund Pettus Bridge, a National Historic Landmark in Selma where civil rights activists marching for voting rights were attacked and beaten. Regis students will also spend time at the grave of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Equal Justice Initiative Memorial and Museum.
Puerto Rico
Another delegation of Regis students and staff will travel to Community Collaborations in Luquillo, Puerto Rico. Community Collaborations provides volunteers with all the support necessary to focus on their service projects.
Regis students will work on ongoing relief efforts, including home reconstruction and repair, in Puerto Rico caused by the Hurricane Maria in 2017. They will also spend time at the local Boys and Girls Club and work on environmental restoration.
Romero Center
The third group of students and staff will spend time at the Romero Center in Camden, New Jersey. Founded in 1998 in honor of St. Oscar Romero, Romero Center Ministries works to bring people together to serve and support the poorest communities in that city. Regis students will volunteer at service sites around Camden, including serving food and working on landscaping projects, while also spending time with those in the community.
More information about Regis’ service immersion trips:
