(Note: The credit for the information in this
article goes to Ray Kizelevicus who, for over 20 years, has been a part of the
Ignatius service projects in the U.S. and Guatemala. Thank you, Ray, for both your efforts on
these projects and for sharing the information for the article.)
In the summer of 1986, Ignatius sent students to two sites: one
in Monticello, Kentucky in Appalachia, the other in Peru.
Quoting from the PREP
1987: “Appalachia: The Chicago Nine, as they called themselves,
set out for their two week project in Monticello, KY. They
went to the homes of the elderly to wash
windows, clean, paint, and talk. Some
were sent to teach bible school to children.
The
trip was definitely a growing experience.
They were impressed by the openness and charm
of people who still pumped water from outside wells, giving them a new
perspective. They learned compassion, understanding, trust and love, and they returned home with
memories of one of the best experiences of their lives.”
“Peru: 1986 marked the
beginning of a journey which for ten Ignatians will never end. Ms. Suzanna Ackerman, Fr. Gino Donatelli, and
Mr. Brian Paulson headed a group of seven seniors: Yvette Alcarese, Nora
Briody, Stephanie Greene, Tim Joyce, Miriam Manglano, Missy Nordgren, and Matt
Slattery.
The group visited Lima, Cusco,
Machu-Picchu, the ruins of an ancient Incan city, and the campos (villages) of
Progresso Bajo and San Rafael. The
Majority of the trip was spent in the campos, living and working with the
Peruvian people. The days were spent
shoveling sand, working in the cotton fields, teaching catechism to the
children, and learning the customs of Peru.
For these ten Ignatians the summer of ’86 will remain etched in their
hearts forever.
The following summer, 1987, 5 students and two faculty members
returned to Peru, and the Appalachian program was expanded to include 42
students and 8 faculty members. The sites included Manchester, Ohio;
Beattyville, Kentucky; Williamsburg, Kentucky, and Center Point, West Virginia.”
The
trips to Peru were replaced by trips to Central America, where students worked side
by side with the indigenous Mayans and watched the men make tools by hand out
of wood scraps and painting with paint brushes whose bristles had been worn
down to about an inch.
We no longer go
to out of the United States sites. Over the course of the
years, Ignatius has sent students to many different places in Appalachia, as
well as New Orleans, North Dakota, Detroit and Saint Procopius Parish which is a
mile away from Saint Ignatius.
The four pillars of the service program are prayer, community, simplicity and service. Each student lived these
traits while learning about a culture totally different from their own.
I asked Ray
what motivated the students to go on these rigorous projects.
“Most of the
students who have gone with me on service projects have done so
altruistically. They went out of their comfort zone to experience poverty
and to help however they could. Certainly, a few may have gone so they
could add it to their college application; some parents may have sent their
children because it would be a 'good' experience.
No matter
their motivation, all students came back affected by
meeting and helping people and probably received more from the people than the
people received from them.”
Ray felt that the
experience was so valuable that he wished more…or all… of the students would
take advantage. That’s just wishful
thinking of course, but, in a world where evil acts are reported daily on the news, it’s
comforting to know that there are many young men and women who give so
willingly of themselves to make life better for those in need.
