As part of Bellarmine’s Immersion Program – an integral expression of our Jesuit mission to form “men for and with others” – students are invited to step outside their comfort zones and encounter the lived realities of communities on the margins. These transformative experiences, rooted in the Ignatian values of faith, justice, and solidarity, challenge students to see the world through a new lens and return home with meaningful new perspectives.
Over Spring Break, a group of Bells traveled to Nogales, Arizona, for the Kino Border Initiative Immersion. Alongside migrants and advocates at the U.S.-Mexico border, the students served breakfast to migrant families at Kino’s Comedor, crossed into Mexico on foot, and listened to powerful testimonies of resilience, displacement, and hope. In Tucson, they observed immigration court proceedings, met with a federal magistrate judge for a conversation on justice and policy, and visited both the Mexican Consulate and a local sanctuary church.
“This trip opened my eyes to new experiences by giving me space to sit and talk with migrants about their experience,” said Charlie Amend ’26.
“At the Kino Comedor, I got the opportunity to talk to a 10-year-old girl named Irene. What struck me the most about our interaction was how similar we were,” he says. “And yet, we had experienced vastly different things.”
In early June, another group of Bells traveled to El Salvador for an immersion that similarly combined social justice education, language learning, and spiritual reflection. Students engaged with the country’s history of civil war and reconciliation, studied the legacy of martyrs like St. Oscar Romero, and explored present-day challenges under contentious governmental actions.
A highlight of the El Salvador trip was time spent with Bellarmine’s sister community of 26 years, Agua Escondida, whose kindergarten is supported annually by funds raised at the Solidarity Dinner.
“Our students opened their minds and hearts to the reality of the country and its people and listened to their stories with care,” said chaperone Daniel Martinez ’20. “Their experiences are full of nuanced reflections and even more complex questions that are yet to be answered.”
The Immersion trips concluded with a closing Mass, where students were invited to offer intentions shaped by the people they met, the stories they heard, and the call to continue this work back home. The Mass continually prevails as a moment of grace, community, and quiet strength that brings each trip full circle.
“The trip has greatly impacted my life and how I see the immense privilege that I have grown up with,” Charlie added. “It was an amazing experience that opened my eyes to the hardship people face every day.”
A heartfelt thank you to the students who participated in the Kino and El Salvador Immersions: Miles Duncan ‘25, Carter Bonham ‘27, Christian Boucicaut ‘26, Alex Chavez ‘27, Charlie Amend ‘26, Joaquin Olavarria ‘25, Mike Rakow ’27, Lucas Calhoun ’26, Dylan Connell ’26, Jorge Escobar ’26, Michael Ford ’26, Saeed Lopez-Dias ’26, Viraj Moharir ’26, Donovan Schmuck ’27, Karan Shah ’26, Simon Wiens ’26, and Matthew Woods ’26.