Browning, Day 4, De La Salle, March 12, 2026
On this trip in particular there was a real temptation to think that we drew the short straw in one way or another. We had planned to spend four days in the classroom with the students of De La salle, and instead we only got two. Monday we were cooped up inside then hiked and, and today we did a deep clean of various parts of the school, hardly the fun and engaging work I expected to have with the students. In reality, however, God gave me just what I needed. I’m used to the idea of feeling good and fulfilled after giving of myself in some capacity, but I’m far less familiar with serving without any reward, emotional or otherwise. On the days I worked with the students I was made to remember that I was in the presence of God because I was constantly asking for the grace to serve these kids for whom I felt so much love for. Today I was forced to remember that I’m in the presence of God because I didn’t feel much. There was no emotional reward for organizing a closet or deep cleaning a couch. Instead there was the deep spiritual grace of a seed planted within my own heart. God had begun to move me on from service which feels good in the moment to service with no noticeable emotional reward here on earth.
That being said, God will not be outdone in generosity. It was so incredibly fulfilling to see how quickly you can make a strong connection with these kids in the span of just two days. By the end of the day in Tuesday (the first day we spent in the classroom) I felt that I had just survived a day in a warzone, but by the end of the day on Wednesday I had earned the nickname ‘Uncle Papi’ from a student who wouldn’t even talk to me the day before. Having only had two days in the classroom, and five altogether I’m left wanting more, but that itself is a blessing. I can put that desire to good use by taking it home with me, along with all the lessons I’ve learned, and applying it to whatever opportunities I find to make a gift of myself back home. So I’ll go back to campus prayer for an open heart to receive opportunities to serve and to remember that I am always in the holy presence of God.
Isaac Papineau, Freshman, Catholic Studies Major
Chicago Day 5, 3/12/26
Today was our free day out in the city of Chicago. We visited four different churches, and all of them were really beautiful inside with amazing architecture and artwork. Each one had something a little different about it, from the paintings to the design of the ceilings. The third one, St. John Cantius Church, was definitely my favorite. It just stood out the most to me, and the inside architecture was really impressive. Praying in all of them was also very peaceful.
After that we went to Lincoln Park Zoo and walked around for a bit. It was nice taking some time to look at all the animals and just walk through the zoo. Later we took a boat tour on the Chicago River, which was honestly one of the coolest parts of the day. Seeing the city and all the buildings from the water gives you a completely different view of Chicago, and the skyline looked awesome.
After the boat tour we stopped at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria to try their world-famous Chicago deep dish pizza, and it was really good definitely worth it. Then we stopped by Cloud Gate and took a bunch of funny pictures in the reflection. It was honestly really funny seeing all the reflections and just messing around with it.
After that we stopped by the Harry Potter Shop and looked around for a bit. Overall, it was a really fun day exploring Chicago, especially seeing all the buildings lit up at night.
-Tyler
Day 4 in Chicago, 3/11/26
Our fourth day in Chicago began with another early morning Mass with Bishop Bob in the chapel. It’s always a blessing to start the day with what matters most, even if I’m quietly battling the pre‑coffee struggle to stay awake.
After Mass we had breakfast, and then the sisters divided us into our morning groups. My group was assigned to clean the church next door, Our Lady of the Angels, a true beacon for the community. A few Carroll and Ferris students and I were given the job of wiping down every pew in the large church. It might sound boring, but it turned into a great chance to talk with some Ferris students about our favorite philosophers and books while we worked. Once the pews were finished, we scrubbed the staircase leading up to the choir loft. What I loved most was the quiet simplicity of cleaning the place where God dwells.
After we cleaned the staircase, we hurried over to the dining hall to join the sisters for their weekly senior Bible study. We spent about thirty minutes reflecting on Luke 4:1–13, discussing how to fight temptation with prayer and connecting it to Christ’s time in the desert. Afterward, all of us college students helped serve lunch to the seniors and then sat down to eat with them.
This ended up being my favorite part of the day. I had the pleasure of sitting next to Pervis and his wife Belinda, who shared stories from their sixty‑year marriage, their prayer lives, and the hardships they’ve faced in their community. Having never lived in a big city marked by poverty and violence, it was eye‑opening to hear their experiences. It made me realize how different our lives can be and how much more grateful I should be for what I have. After lunch we cleaned up and had an hour break before our holy hour. Holy hour is another highlight of my day because it gives me a quiet space to bring whatever is on my mind to prayer.
Following holy hour, we walked down the block to the YMCA for our fourth day with the kids. It’s always a joy to spend time with them, playing games, helping with homework, and just being present. After basketball and a few rounds of sharks and minnows, we headed back to the mission for a delicious dinner prepared by the sisters.
We ended the evening with a Q&A session with the sisters and the apostolates of the mission. They shared their stories of discernment, how they ended up here, and offered insightful vocation advice, along with some of their favorite stories about St. Francis. We closed the night with a quick group meeting to reflect on the day.
I’m excited for tomorrow and whatever the big city has in store.
Alexandre
Browning, Day 3, De La Salle, March 11, 2026
Today we went back to De La Salle for the second day there. It has been a wonderful time getting to know each of the students and just be able to interact with them within the day. It has been truly amazing to get to see how they interact with one another and their joyful, yet chaotic, in a good way, nature. Each and every child so far has been friendly and welcoming to each of their classmates and is willing to be there for their friends and classmates. I’ve noticed and admired the way almost all of the kid’s hands shoot up during prayer intentions and they pray for their classmates. Their willingness to pray and show that they care for the people around them just is an amazing thing to witness. Another thing that is a great thing to witness is how almost half the class was wanting me to sit by them or help them. They were willing to let me help them and be there as a person who sees them as another human, not some idea of what they should or shouldn’t do as a kid. It just made me really happy to know that we don’t know each other that well and yet they wanted to trust and let me help them with whatever they wanted help with, whether it was math or some other subject.
Regarding God and when I’ve personally seen him, I would simply say that the kids are where I see a symbol of God. How each child isn’t afraid to let others know they are praying for them or their loved ones just makes me happy. The children there aren’t worried and willing to trust God and that he’ll help guide and walk them through whatever struggles they are experiencing. I would say that these kids have helped me open my eyes and see that praying isn’t just because we need help with something, it is way more than thinking of ourselves. To think about others during prayer and being grateful for what we have and for God himself. Another thing I think a lot of people don’t do is just be vulnerable and able to be there for those in need and look to God to help guide who they care about to see the good in the situation. I think overall, I’ve felt God the most with these children I have worked with and gotten the pleasure to be around. They are able to be carefree and show compassion to one another and God, which in my opinion is a great quality to be around and think about.
Caitlin Moss, Freshman, Biology Major, Anthrozoology Minor.
Today was a terrific experience for me. I was really hoping going into this immersion trip that Christ would stretch my heart and make me more receptive to receiving His grace, love, and wisdom so that I would be better able to see Him reflected in people who I encounter in my daily life. Entering into this day with a heart open to experiencing the infectious joy of these children helped me share in their little victories, and be more aware of the Lord working in the De La Salle school. Having the opportunity to be surrounded by children uncovered my eyes and allowed me to learn from these children more than they will ever know. Christ tells us that we are to be dependent like children if we are intent on truly receiving Him and sharing in his joy in Heaven. Witnessing these children at different points during their otherwise ordinary day, whether they were engaged in learning about animals in our created world or the significance of the sacrament of Confession, afforded me the privilege of seeing the world through the eyes of a child and being able to experience that for the first time in a long time. More important than phonics and multiplication tables is forming relationships, and my day abounded with friendly conversations with these kids that allowed me to truly recognize their humanity in a deep, new way. Even if these children don’t know it, they have already taught me more about life than I could ever help them to understand. In the classroom, we are continuously reminded that we are in the holy presence of God. How easy it is in the hustle and bustle of life to forget that simple yet powerful truth.
Experiencing Christ’s love through these children and trying to allow the Holy Spirit to work through me for their benefit is only part of the story. I have been amazed throughout my time at De La Salle to witness the patience, passion, and authentic love that the teachers have for the students. Yes, the teachers instruct them academically, and yes, they bring these children joy through engaging their young minds and playing games with them. Most beautiful for me, however, is to see Christ reflected in these teachers who truly care for the souls of their students. Even after the school day ended, the graces didn’t stop pouring in. The immersion students were afforded the opportunity to hear from a speaker who gave a truly authentic personal witness that was very moving. It just so happened that it was exactly what I needed to hear, spiritually speaking. In essence, words will never be able to capture what I experienced today. A good life is one that is punctuated with many beautiful moments. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, I was fortunate enough to receive more than I could have ever expected today.
Michael Faccenda, Sophomore, Political Science/International Relations Major
Browning, Day 2, De La Salle, March 10, 2026
We’ve just finished up all our activities for the day (excluding evening prayer), and without a prompt for this blog post, I’m forced to really reflect on the events and feelings experienced throughout the day. I spent today in the 4th and 5th grade classroom and had such a wonderful experience. Despite what everyone’s been telling our group about the kids the past weeks, I found it relatively easy to enter in to today with few expectations. Placing expectations on these kids—with experiences many of us have no way of relating to—seemed unfair. Each one of the children in the classroom was unique, learning in different ways, with different interests and different priorities. While talking with the kids and playing with them, I was often reminded of how genuinely wonderful each child was—despite refusing to do their work, or interrupting, or storming out of the classroom. It was difficult to remain patient at times, but feelings of frustration or anger never entered the equation.
We spoke briefly about God’s commandments during the religion block—specifically the two greatest commandments: love God with all your heart, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. These kids, although young, exemplified both of these so well.
I was surprised at how emotionally mature so many of them were. The ‘students ‘Little Flowers’ were honestly kind to one another, aware of how the other needed to feel loved. When we were playing games on the breaks or at lunch, no one was left out or spending time alone. There didn’t seem to be any expectations the kids placed on each other; the quite kids were able to stay silent without being pestered or forced into speaking while the more extroverted kids were able to be boisterous without driving away other personalities. No one needed to say anything explicit or do anything grand to show that they loved and valued their ‘neighbor’. This kind of acceptance of the person standing in front of you, for who they truly are—not who you would like them to be—seems inherent to what it means to be human, to live like Christ. Although we were technically supposed to be helping the students with long-division and what-not, today, I learned so much more from them than they did from any of us.
Megan Davies, Freshman, International Relations and Political Science Majors studying at Carroll College
Today was our first experience helping out in the classrooms, and as I’m reflecting about how the day went I feel very grateful for the opportunities I had to grow in my appreciation for the kids we were serving today. When we arrived at the school before any classes began I was initially unsure how well I was going to be able to connect with the students; however, although shy at first, I found that many of the kids were willing to open up and receive help in their schoolwork. While I don’t consider myself an outgoing person, I had successes today in connecting with students and I believe this was due to their receptiveness and the energy they have as kids. Overall, I was very pleased with the interactions I had today and am looking forward to improving the service I can perform over the next several days, and I think the best way to do this is to improve the relationships I form with them.
One of the things we discussed in preparation to this trip was the importance of connection with the kids. Being able to show them that you care about them is very important for their growth because they understand that you are coming from a place of love. I don’t know if I stressed it enough in the first paragraph, but the kids I got to work with today were genuinely wonderful. Although there were moments today where the behavior of some students was trying to say the least, it was energizing to see the goodness present in the most troubled kids. Part of this came about when I reflected on their human nature and how I would feel in their situation. Sitting through eight hours of school today reminded me how boring some parts of middle school were, so it’s no wonder that kids with high energy have trouble concentrating on their work. What stuck with me more than their behavior was their interactions with each other and the joy they exhibited when doing something they loved. I am very excited to continue working with them over the next few days and deepening my understanding of their life.
Mark Ahner, Freshman, Accounting and Strategic Finance Major at Carroll College
Chicago Day 3, 3/10/26
Once again, there was another early morning wake-up, but it was incredibly special because we got to have mass in the Church. The mass was quick because we were ready to hit the ground running at the food pantry. After a quick breakfast, we took our positions ready to serve everything from fresh produce to toilet paper to canned foods of all sorts. There were even 100 medical professionals here to offer healthcare to people whom it may not be as easily available to…for free! Many of the neighbors who came in spoke Spanish, so it was a humbling experience not understanding hardly anything that was being said. I wish I could have been able to converse a little more personally, but because of my non-Spanish capabilities, “macaroni e queso” and “sopa tomate” was about the extent of what I would say, handing a family a whole case of tomato soup or boxes of macaroni and cheese. Yet I still was able to say something to every one of the almost 500 people who showed up at the pantry. The way that every volunteer works to treat others with dignity really shows what service to the community means.
After an exhausting yet fruitful pantry experience, we ate lunch and had a holy hour. I was trying not to fall asleep, but after praying a rosary, I felt peace in the silence and had a few moments of just being able to rest with Jesus right in front of me.
We went to the childcare afterschool program again, and the kids had so much energy that it was hard to keep up with them! Each little smile, every adorable laugh, every one-on-one conversation made me realize the wonders of being a child and how much our attention matters to them. Throughout the coloring, bingo, and gym games, we have grown better relationships with these little ones.
Dinner was such a fruitful experience, being able to connect more deeply with the college who we are joining here in Chicago. Looking around, I could see everyone having a conversation, laughing, and having a good time. After gathering to reflect upon the day as a Carroll student, I remembered that this service trip is not about me or what I am concerned with, but about fellowship with all sorts of communities: the Franciscan Sisters, the poor, the children, and even my own Carroll peers who I have been blessed to be with. Also, who knew there were so many different ways people gulped?
-Abby, Freshman
Browning, Day 1, De La Salle, March 9, 2026
Currently, it is 7:10 pm on the first legitimate day of the De La Salle Immersion Trip. The team woke up at 6 am to ready for time at the school with the children. By 6:15 am, brother Jim walked through the trailer door and informed the team that the school had a snow day, and there was no class in session. I thought that Jim was joking initially, and I hoped that he was but he was not. I was devastated that we were not spending time with the students. I was eager to interact with the kids, to give and serve as well as receive and learn from them. I went back to my bed and slept for a few more hours. The lord bestowed that grace of rest upon me. After reflecting on the day, it was much needed. Chris coordinated with Jon to change the gameplan for the day. Chris made an influential midgame adjustment for the squad. We left at 11 am to East Glacier to hike and learn from the park rangers. The hike in the national park was planned for Friday before departing home. I was enthused to partake in the hike. I am leaving Thursday morning to visit my family, so I should have missed out on the hike; instead, I gladly laced up the snowshoes and hiked in the forest. We came to understand some of the culture behind the Blackfeet’s relationship with the federal government from 1850 to 1910. We were educated about wildlife and vegetation in the area; moreover, how to scout and track the animals. We competed in an activity called run and scream–a tradition the Blackfeet Indians utilized to see who would lead the bison off the jumps. The name of the game is self explanatory, simply we ran from a start line with one breath screaming to see who could make it the furthest. I was in the lead until my left snowshoe fell off and tripped me. I did a somersault and lied in the snow for a minute or so.
The drive to East Glacier and back to the mission campus were filled with fruitful conversations governed by the Lord. The roads were mildly poor conditions. The rest of the evening was chill. There was conversation, stories, puzzles, naps, silence, reflection, and prayer. There was chicken alfredo and broccoli for dinner–it was delicious. Many of the peers on this team I have never conversated or hung out with. These strangers have became good friends. I hope to continue friendship with these fellow servants. I respect these people and their personalities. We have broke bread together, enjoyed meals and talked endlessly. We have inside jokes about: “the buffalo guy,” “the buffalo runner,” “the wolf guy,” and “immersion.” I pray the lord conforms my heart to his, so I can treat these individuals with graciousness and love. Although today did not entail servitude at De La Salle, it was not a fluke because the lord planned a day to recharge and prepare for what is to come. I yearn to encourage the kids throughout this week. Tomorrow will be fulfilling and our assembly entrance will be exhilarating. We need prayer to share the Lord’s light and we need silence to be able to touch souls. I am extremely appreciative of this opportunity thus far. May peace be with you, god bless.
Maki McArthur, Junior, Chemistry Major on Pre-Med Pathway studying at Carroll College
When I woke up at 6:00AM, all I could think about was all of the uncertainty of the day. I was scared that I wouldn’t be prepared to spend a whole day in a grade school classroom and I had some genuine anxiety about it. I was worried that the kids wouldn’t like me, a fear that would be similar to a grade schooler’s on the first day of school. Then just minutes after I got out of bed, Brother Jim informed us that the De La Salle Blackfeet School was having a snow day. I felt feelings of relief, but also disappointment. In that moment I realized that I really wanted to go and make some sort of difference no matter how small and that now I would have one less day to do that.
Despite the disappointment, we made the most of the day. I became just a little more connected in the complex Blackfeet culture and I also built better connections with the people on the trip with me as well. My day was really highlighted by rest, the outdoors, and getting educated myself. In the morning I really felt grateful for the people on the trip and we had some fun conversation on the drive up to Glacier National Park. When we got there we went on an educational snowshoeing hike. This was great and I feel like I got to learn a lot about the Blackfeet culture both literally from our guides and physically from just recognizing how important the area is to them. Now I have a renewed motivation to do the best I can the rest of the week.
Tanner Joyce, Freshman, Civil Engineering Major at Carroll College
Day 2 Chicago, 3/9/26
This morning, we started early with a beautiful Mass at 6:30a.m. led by Bishop Bob, one of the founders of this order. Afterwards, we ate breakfast and got to work under Sister Stephanie’s direction. She gave us different tasks to do in preparation for the food pantry that is held on the first floor of the retreat center every Tuesday.
We worked alongside the sisters and volunteers for about four hours. Whether it was transporting, sorting, organizing, or bagging foods and other goods, we all stayed busy and hard at work. I thought it was amazing to see how many different people were involved in this process and to see how generously people donate. You could tell this service is done out of love and it didn’t feel like just some chores, but rather like this would really make a difference in lives of our neighbors. Every Monday this food pantry goes through 50,000 pounds of food, which is something I can barely wrap my head around.
Once we got done, we got to pray liturgy of the hours with the sisters in the little chapel, which was very slow and intentional. Then we got to eat lunch with the sisters and students from the other school, Ferris State University, that had just arrived at lunch. I really enjoyed getting to sit among the sisters and get to know them a bit more while sharing a meal with them. After lunch cleanup we unloaded a few more pounds of food from a last-minute delivery and prayed a holy hour in adoration. A lot of us did have a hard time staying awake during this hour because of our busy morning, but it was a great time to take a moment to reflect and pray.
The next hour and half of our day was spent with elementary kids at the YMCA. This is a very crucial place in this neighborhood where kids from nearby schools can go after school, rather than getting into trouble elsewhere. We all had a wonderful time playing outside with these kids and just getting to know them and their sweet personalities a bit. We did this with some other students from Ferris, so we were able to get to know them too.
Before dinner, we played hacky sack in the sun and then ate a meal of pizza, tacos, and various items with the Ferris students. They are a big and fun crew, and I’ve had a good time getting to meet a lot of them. After dinner clean up, us Carroll students had a debrief in which we shared the various cool moments that we had from the day.
We really noticed how intentional the sisters are when they work, pray, and speak to people. My prayer for all of us is that we can be intentional and loving as they are and above all, as Christ is.
Alli
Day 1 – Arrival in Chicago, 3/8/26
Today we set off for Chicago to spend the week serving with the Franciscans at their retreat center and working alongside them among the poor. The day started very early. With daylight saving time and a 4:15 a.m. wake-up, the morning felt especially brutal. Still half asleep, we drove from Helena to Bozeman to catch our 8 a.m. flight. On the drive we prayed a rosary together, which was a peaceful way to begin the trip and helped set the tone for the week ahead.
After landing in Chicago, we took the train into the city and headed to Logan Square for lunch. Riding the train gave us a chance to see different neighborhoods as we made our way through the city. We stopped at Same Day Take Away to eat, and while we waited to be picked up we spent a little time outside tossing around a hacky sack and enjoying a moment to pause after the morning of travel.
Sister Macey picked us up from there and drove us to the retreat center where we’ll be staying. On the drive we noticed the variety of architecture and how closely the houses sit next to one another. It was interesting seeing the character of the different streets as we made our way to the retreat center.
When we arrived, Sister Macey gave us a tour of the new retreat building, and it’s amazing. Everything is so clean and clearly well cared for. During the tour she shared more about the ministries that take place here. They host a food pantry and have recently added free, quick clinics for the community. Since I’ll be a nurse soon, that especially caught my attention. Providing healthcare for the poor and marginalized I’m sure will make a great impact.
There are also spaces meant for community and rest, like a board game and lounge room, which make the whole place feel very welcoming. As she showed us around, Sister Macey talked about how everything here is a gift. Everything in the building has been donated, and she shared that with a lot of gratitude. It was a meaningful reminder of how generosity and faith can create something that serves many people.
We enjoyed dinner with the sisters at the retreat center and had time to talk and get to know them a little better. Tomorrow another college group from Ferris State University will be arriving, and we’re looking forward to meeting them and getting to know them throughout the week.
We ended the evening with Eucharistic adoration and some puzzle time together, which turned into a nice bit of team bonding after a long day of travel. It was a full first day, but it already feels like this week is going to be a meaningful experience.
My biggest takeaway from the day is that everything is a gift and the Franciscan’s way of life is so so beautiful!
Kathryn
Browning, Day 5, De La Salle, March 14, 2025
Today was our final day with the De La Sale Blackfeet school. Throughout this week I had the pleasure of being with the Little Flower Academy, the 4th and 5th grade classes combined and the youngest age group in the school. This experience has been amazing. These kids are amazing. One of the most remarkable things to me was the ease and freedom with which they are able to be children. Earlier this week we learned from one of our speakers how one part of the Blackfeet culture is this ease with which they are able to acknowledge the unpretty and mournful realities. They have a natural and cultural inclination to share with one another in their mourning and suffering as opposed to hiding it from another, and just within one week I have been able to see the ways in which this makes many of them a people who are easy in openness to relationship and easy in giving their love. And so I think despite all of the compounded trauma and adverse childhood experiences these kids have inherited, they are so resilient and kind and childlike at least in part due to this part of their culture. I was blown away by their love, their joy, and their strength in the classroom to struggle to learn new things.
One particular joy from today was just in saying our goodbyes to the kids. One of them gave me a goodbye note today in the morning, saying I wasn’t allowed to open it until later. She had given it to me while in the middle of a giant game of Sharks and Minnows with the 8th graders so I couldn’t understand when “later” was, but it worked out alright. When we did leave that afternoon and began taking pictures and giving our hugs and saying goodbyes, she gave me a hug and then said ever so quietly that I could open the note now. She had thanked me for helping with math, “the other things,” and wished us save travels back to college. All of my goodbyes were every bit as precious and surprising in how much the kids already cared for us. It is a remarkable touch of the hand of God in this community to have so many wonderful kids who truly get to be kids, and who get to embody the love the Creator has for His children.
Macie Frans
Senior, Carroll College
Carroll College Campus Ministry 