Gwynedd-Mercy College Department of Campus Ministry / Mercy Works
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Activities/Teams in which you are active:
TRIP PREFERENCE: Please rank the trips from 1 to 3 (1 being your most preferred trip). If you are unwilling to go on a particular trip, even if that means not going at all, please write NO in the blank.
New York City, NY (Sunday March 2-Friday March 7) Travel by van to NYC (3 hours). Tentative Itinerary: Live in a residential high school dormitory. Serve in a variety of urban settings, including tutoring children, assisting a high school leadership retreat, volunteering in social service agencies, and possibly visiting the Sisters of Mercy’s representative to the United Nations during the “Week of the Woman.” Trip limited to eight students.
New Orleans, LA (Sunday March 2-Friday March 7) Fly to New Orleans. Tentative Itinerary: Live in St. Vincent’s Guest House (a dormitory-style hostel) with students and faculty from the “History and Culture of New Orleans” class. Serve on a Habitat for Humanity workday, volunteer in a variety of social service and educational settings in collaboration with the Sisters of Mercy in New Orleans. Tour the city and learn about its heritage, culture, and the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Trip limited to ten students.
Laredo, TX (Saturday March 1-Thursday March 6) Fly directly to Laredo or fly to San Antonio, TX then travel by van to Laredo (3 hours), to be determined. Tentative Itinerary: Live at Holy Spirit Retreat Center with ASB group from the College of St. Mary, Omaha. Serve in a variety of immigration-focused social services; tour the city, colonias, and border region to learn about immigration issues from many perspectives. Note: tour includes Nueveo Laredo, Mexico, and will require a passport. Students who do not have a passport should apply for one immediately upon acceptance to this trip; cost is $97 plus price of photos. Visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html Trip limited to ten students.
Please type your answers to the following questions:
In what service activities have you participated in the past? How were they meaningful for you?
Why do you want to go on ASB, and in particular your first-choice trip? What do you hope to gain in return for the time, effort and money you will put into this experience? What would you say to friends or family who might think this is a strange way to spend your vacation?
Why are you a good candidate for this trip? What qualities will you bring to the group with whom you will serve?
How do you see this service experience as part of your spiritual journey?
