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Mary Frances McGowan
  • Communication & Theatre Arts
  • Class of 2017
  • Brecksville, OH

Mary Frances McGowan Travels to Pine Ridge for Spring 2017 Service Mission

2017 Apr 28

Mary Frances McGowan is among a group of students who recently traveled to Pine Ridge as part of immersion experiences sponsored by John Carroll University's Office of Campus Ministry during spring break. Immersion experiences challenge students to engage the realities of the world while reflecting on the values of human dignity and servant leadership. Students were assigned to one of three destinations. Below is a brief description of their volunteer experiences in each location:

Immokalee, Florida

John Carroll partnered with the Humility of Mary Volunteers to offer an immersion experience that allows students to better understand the community of migrant farmers who live in Immokalee. Students visited a variety of different agencies including the local Catholic parish's social service center, Habitat for Humanity, and the Coalition of Immokalee Farmworkers. Students also met with several local residents and community leaders to hear varying perspectives on the challenges that Immokalee and its people face.

Louisville, Kentucky

John Carroll has partnered with CrossRoads Ministry, a social justice outreach ministry, for more than 10 years to offer an immersion retreat experience focused on encountering refugees. While in Louisville, students volunteered at Catholic Charities and other social service centers that work directly with refugees from all over the world in order to grow in understanding of the refugee population and the plight they face in rebuilding their lives in a new country. The group also visited the Abbey of the Gethsemani, former home of Thomas Merton, to spend a day in contemplative reflection regarding their experience.

Pine Ridge, South Dakota

For the first time, John Carroll partnered with Re-Member to participate in various work projects across the Reservation, helping to rebuild relationships, homes, and lives. Guided by the aspirations of the Oglala Lakota Indian communities they serve, Re-Member seeks to improve the quality of reservation life through relationships, shared resources and volunteer services. Through different volunteer site visits and cultural immersion, students were able to stand in solidarity with the Native American people of Pine Ridge, South Dakota.