The Immersion Trip to El Paso, TX was to learn about the Encuentro Project, which is a collaborative project that involves the Jesuits, Marist Brothers, Sisters of St. Francis and the Holy Family in the El Paso community. During this immersion week the seniors provided direct services to vulnerable migrants who have just arrived to the United States. Students also participated in workshops with community organizers, border patrol agents, and attorneys that offered a comprehensive look at the social and legal aspects of the immigration issue. The boys also discussed and reflected on migrant/border realities through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.

The boys spent many days at the Holy Family Parish to prepare dinner for migrants. They also sat at different tabes and talked with the guests about their journey into the US. After the meal, the boys would play games (soccer, basketball, etc) with the kids at the shelter. 

Ray Huke '24 said "I learned the different ways one can immigrate and the surprising amount of time that it takes. We had the time to play with the immigrant children. It was very nice to share something like a game of basketball or baseball that brings joy to everyone playing and transcends language barriers."

Will Houding '24 reflected "Immigrants are good people, even though the media does always not makes them out to be. They just want a better life with more opportunity. One immigrant told me how he had to sneak around the streets of Ciudad Juarez for six months waiting for an opportunity to get into the U.S. This immersion trip helped me see immigrants in a better light now and see them as my contemporaries."

College Counseling Assistant Annie Gehringer was a chaperone on the trip. She shared "I conversed with a family of four - parents, son (23) and daughter (6), who were staying in the shelter. They were heading to Atlanta to stay with family members and already have a 27 year old son who is in the US working in landscaping on the East Coast. They shared that the reason for leaving home was due to the violence and that some of their family members had been murdered. I gained a deeper knowledge about how Title 42 worked, more about Title 8, the different types of visas and paths to citizenship for migrants coming to the US. I also learned  difference between the cartels and the migrants and the history of El Paso and it's role in immigration, as a city that serves as a port of entry."

Teacher and chaperone, Ramon Tusell relayed the story of a woman from Venezuela, with her three kids described what she had seen during her travels from Venezuela to El Paso. She said that the hardest part of her trip was the Darién Gap. She saw a Haitian woman and child perish while she was making her way through the jungle. She also saw a man fall off the train while traveling through Mexico. It is amazing to witness the desire and resilience of these migrants as they try to reach the US for a better life. The good news was she was getting on a plane soon headed for California to be reunited with her father.

The Immersion Trip to El Paso, Tx was ful of learning, understanding, service, and some fun. When the boys were not doing service, they did get to tour the area and try some authentic Mexican food. They went to a scenic view of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez and hiked up to Mount Cristo Rey.