Local Immersion

Urban Plunge

Each quarter two faculty and 8 junior or senior students spend two days and one night with persons who are homeless and the agencies that support and serve them. A typical Plunge Weekend begins with a period of reflection and honest discussion of the beliefs participants hold about the issue of homelessness. There are times each day for reflection and journaling. During the Plunge, participants work at social service agencies serving people who are currently unhoused. These service placements emphasize inter-personal contact and involve hands-on, direct service work.

Participants also have time to speak with homeless advocates, city representatives and church leaders about the issue of homelessness. As the weekend draws to a close, there is a period of evaluation in which the beliefs and expectations brought out in the initial period of reflection are reassessed. Participants share stories about the people they met and come up with a personal commitment and a group commitment in responding to the issue of homelessness. The weekend closes with a commissioning ceremony in the Bellarmine's Chapel.

Rural Plunge

The Bellarmine Rural Plunge Immersion is a three-day retreat in Salinas, CA, that seeks to build relationships and solidarity with people who work in the fields as migrant farm workers. The Plunge includes opportunities for work, reflection, discussion, and prayer, among other things.

During the immersion, group of 8 students and 2 Faculty/Staff stay a with the Franciscan workers who serve people living on the margins in the Salinas area. To learn about the lives of farm workers and the agriculture industry, we gain a variety of perspectives. We meet with members of the Diocese of Monterey’s Office of Migrant Ministries. We visit farm worker camps and converse with individuals and families. We tour the fields of an organization that helps farm workers start their own businesses and promotes organic and sustainable farming. We work with children at an after-school program for migrant farm workers’ children. We stop by the Citizenship Project to learn about citizenship issues. And, finally, students get a taste of work in the fields as we glean produce for local food banks.

As the trip draws to a close we have a period of evaluation. Participants share stories about the people they met and their thoughts on issues related to migrant farm workers. The trip concludes with prayer and reflection in Bellarmine’s Leontyne Chapel.