This trip to World Youth Day (WYD) 2016 in Kraków, Poland, seemed to come quite suddenly. I had just gotten back from Rome on May 29. However, college is all about making memories and doing as much as possible.
Topics: Campus Ministry, Pope Francis, Catholic, Anastasia Jaegar, Salt Mine, World Youth Day, Krakow, Poland, Shrine of the Divine Mercy
My time in Taiwan has been so non-stop that I’ve barely had time to write any updates! The trip is two days away from ending, and while sleeping in my own bed sounds marvelous, I know that I will miss this as soon as I’m gone. Taiwan is filled with so much beauty and I am so grateful to be here.
Topics: Campus Ministry, Taiwan, service learning, Theresa Thimons, Fu Jen Catholic University
Caring for Orphans | Campus Ministry Service in Taiwan
After our work in Taiwan, our group said goodbye to our friends from Cardinal Tien Nursing College and Fu Jen University, and flew to China. After a free day filled with visiting the Forbidden City, climbing the Great Wall, and watching a Chinese acrobat show, we spent our days volunteering at the China Little Flower orphanage. This orphanage specializes in caring for handicapped children. Unfortunately, for privacy reasons, we were unable to take any pictures at the orphanage, but Kate Blakely shared her thoughts on our experience there:
Topics: Campus Ministry, Kate Steinel, China, China Little Flower orphanage, early childhood education
Farmers for a day (or two or three) | Campus Ministry Service
Gardening played a rather large role in our time in Taiwan. When we first met with the students from Cardinal Tien Nursing College- a group of enthusiastic teenage girls- we visited an organic farming community. There we learned about the importance of organic farming as well as a general overview of the methods. We also got some hands-on experience. We tilled, planted, weeded, and fertilized, as well as created compost.
Topics: Campus Ministry, Taiwan, Kate Steinel, Zachary Zuck, Maria Solomond, Br. Matthew Lambert, organic farming
Some New Recipes | Campus Ministry Service in Taiwan
Continuing our service in Taiwan, my fellow students and I journeyed to the mountains to do work for the people living in the villages there. We were accompanied by students from the Cardinal Tien Nursing College as well as our translators from Fu Jen University. We split into groups there to do different service activities, and one of these groups taught the villagers several new recipes. April Smith was part of one of these groups, and related her experience:
Topics: Campus Ministry, Taiwan, Lauren Harbaugh, April Smith
Teaching and Playing | Campus Ministry Service in Taiwan
While visiting the people living in villages in the mountains of Taiwan, the Saint Vincent students, accompanied by students from Cardinal Tien Nursing College and translators from Fu Jen University, split into groups to perform different services. One group was sent to teach and play with the children there. Zack Zuck was a member of this group and shared his thoughts regarding the experience:
Topics: Campus Ministry, Taiwan, Kate Steinel, Lauren Harbaugh, April Smith, Zachary Zuck
Every summer a group from St. Vincent travels to Taiwan and China on a Campus Ministry service trip. I and eleven others were lucky enough to participate in the trip this year.
Topics: Campus Ministry, Taiwan, Kate Steinel, Lauren Harbaugh, Volunteer Abroad, service, Maria Solomond, Stephanie Rubin