Browning, day 4, De La Salle Blackfeet School, March 13, 2025
Josie Gale Caritas Reflection Thursday, March 13, 2025 (Day 4)
Throughout the immersion experience, I have been working primarily with the 8th grade class. So far, we have had three full days with the students in the De La Salle Blackfeet School, and today was our last full school day with them. Today’s schedule looked a little bit different because Mass was incorporated into the school schedule, and the 8th graders were leading Mass. It was so wonderful to watch the students in the class I have been working with proclaim the word of God and lead the school through this beautiful sacrament. This was very nostalgic for me since my middle school would do the same thing in terms of having different classes lead Mass each week.
Within the 8th grade class, I have loved being able to work in small groups and one-on-one with students to complete missing work or provide more hands-on help for students struggling in a specific area of study. Through this, I have been able to learn a lot about the students. Earlier this week, I was working with a very shy student on math and all of a sudden she turns to me and this fountain of information started coming out of her mouth about the types of music she likes. I was both intrigued and excited at the same time that she felt compelled to share her interests with me, and it turns out that we have a lot in common when it comes to genres, songs, and bands that we like. In working with another student very little, I joined her for the chess enrichment activity and she began opening up to me about her family life and how close she is with her dad. I felt so blessed that this student, after knowing me for only a couple of days, was comfortable opening up to me in that way. Another student, very very shy and soft-spoken, when he speaks at all, has started coming out of his shell during my individual work with him. It is beautiful watching him be confident in the work that he is doing and the growth I have seen in just two days. Yesterday, when I first started working with him, it was difficult to get just a one word answer out of him, but now today, still with a little resistance and hesitation (but not nearly as much as yesterday), he makes eye contact, answers with confidence, and smiles.
I have also thoroughly enjoyed connecting with the teachers in the school. Specifically, with Mrs. Armstrong. She has been at De La Salle for a few years and teaches 8th grade homeroom, 8th grade ELA and Social Studies, and 7th grade ELA and Social Studies. I remember earlier in the week the two of us having a casual conversation during a break between classes and she opened up to me about two extreme losses she has experienced within the past month. She told me that sometimes she doesn’t want to come to school and wants to just stay at home and sleep, but she knows that’s not good for her and it wouldn’t be good for her students. In this conversation, she emphasized how important it is that her students receive a good education, but also how much she cares for each and every one of her students. I was so inspired by her devotion and commitment to her students and how she is able to put aside the difficulties in her life to provide them with an environment in which they can learn and grow. This immersion experience has been a beautiful encounter to the universality of the Church and a prime example of Jesus loving each and every one of His children. I feel blessed to have been able to witness selflessness, growth, excitement, child-like faith, determination, love, and so much more throughout my time in Browning. Thank you to the community of Browning, the De La Salle Blackfeet School, University of Providence, and Carroll College for this wonderful opportunity.
Browning, Day 3, March 12, 2025 De La Salle Blackfeet School
March 12, 2025 – Day Three in Browning
The third day at De La Salle started wonderfully. I woke up to Roy singing and I knew immediately that it would be a blessed day. This whole week has been an incredible blessing and I am so very excited to be able to partake in it with friends and strangers who have now become my friends. I have experienced many graces over the short three days and today was no different.
The 6th graders, which is the class that I am assigned to, have started getting more comfortable with us in the class and I have felt more of a laid back and open presence in the classroom now. An example of this was at lunch today, multiple students asked if I could sit with them and we ended up conversing about life. They told me about their families and siblings and what they liked to do in the free time off of school. It made me feel more of a friend to these kids rather than just another immersion student. I think that my experience here has been very different than I thought. When I came here, I imagined these kids to be so incredibly different from me when I was their age. But that could not be further from the truth. The people at this school are just normal kids, who laugh and cry have fun exactly as I did in school. Some have a different family life aspect and are living in a very impoverished place, but they are still kids nonetheless. It is very powerful to see that these kids are not much different from others and that they still are very much worthy of love and attention as anyone else.
Last night we were asked about moments in the trip where we have loved as God loves, seen as God sees, and/or done as God does and so that question was on my mind and my heart all throughout the day today. I think that just being with these kids and being a part of their lives has really allowed me to almost enter in to their struggles. Obviously, I have not seen or experienced many of the things that these kids have, but being able to see them and get to know them has really opened my eyes. My first couple days here, I found myself getting frustrated some of the kids not wanting to work and wanting to just converse with their friends and goof off. But after reflecting on that and the context of their lives, I came to the realization that this time at school can almost be a get away for these kids. This may be the only time where they actually get to spend time with their friends and just be able to be themselves. If I was in their position, I would want to just spend time with my friends and just be a kid as well.
The last thing I want to say is that a lot of these kids are not where they should be school wise. When talking about the question above in reflection on Tuesday night, one of the fellow Carroll students spoke about how God doesn’t love us for the things that we do or accomplish, He loves us for being us. I think this is a perfect reflection in being here this week. A lot of these kids are not good at math or good at science, but that isn’t why we should love them. We love them for being creations of God and being part of the family of Christ. So it has been an incredible grace to be able to try and love as God loves in that way.
I can’t wait to finish the final two days and I will be sad when my time here comes to an end. This trip has exceeded all expectations and I recommend doing something similar to all people who truly want to experience the love and grace of Christ.
Chuck Markham, senior, Carroll College
Caritas Denver Reflection, Christ in the City 3/11/25
Being in Denver has opened my eyes in so many ways. On Monday we had training and a street tour. On Tuesday, we went out to our street assignments for the first time. In Matthew, the Lord tells us to be “poor in spirit” (Mt. 5:3). Though I have heard it listed in the beatitudes my whole life, I have never experienced a tangible way to be poor. These last two days, my eyes were opened to the poverty that is a reality for so many, so many that could just as easily be me. In my friends who live on 16th street in Denver, I have seen many parts of my own heart: many ways I lack trust and dependency on the Father, many ways I lack poverty where it is needed, and many ways I lean on my independence over my dependency on the Lord. We can learn many lessons from the poor like not to take our home for granted, not to take our friends and family for granted, and not to take all the free gifts from the Lord for granted. It can be easy to think we deserve what we have been given, to get caught in the lie that it is ours, but it is all free gift from the Lord. While the hardships are real, I was struck by the joy that is present in such circumstances. My friends on 16th have a beautiful hope and receptivity about them. Walking with my friends on 16th street showed me the reality of deep hurt in our humanity, where my own heart is poor, and where my heart could use much more poverty.
Thanks!
Celi Chapman, Sophomore, Carroll College
Browning, Day 2, March 12, 2025, De La Salle Blackfeet School
So far, the trip to Browning has been a blessed time. Since the beginning of the trip, I have been amazed at the sense of community Browning clearly exhibits. In the first mass, during the sign of peace, everyone spent nearly two minutes giving peace and even during communion, continued to shake hands and exchanged signs of peace throughout the pews. Being able to play a part in the community of Browning has been so pleasant as I came in with the mindset that the community would have been more broken in the poverty that is present. However, the poverty seems to drive a real love between the people in uniting in their sufferings. Many of the people I have encountered suffer well, and this is something I wish to take into my own life.
In a reflection we had tonight, Roy, the campus minister of University of Providence (who is also joining the trip with us,) asked the question: “What does it mean to do what God does, see what God sees, and love as God loves?” I have been reflecting on this question tonight and the answer reflects a lot of my outlook on the trip thus far. For one, the answer to this question revolves around love, as He is love, sees through the lens of his love, and what he “does” is love. Seeing through a lens of love and charitability must then be the lens we tend to strive for in our own lives. But how do we actually learn to do this?
I have found that my perspective on how to view others has changed even in the two days we have been able to spend with the students here in Browning. Many of these students deal with real struggles, such as alcoholic parents, abuse, or other stresses that make the ordinary life we take for granted much more difficult. In this way, when in the schools and a student is paying attention, or struggling to pay attention, I find myself have a different reaction that I normally would, one that is more understanding and charitable to what may be going on in their lives outside the classroom. Rather than seeing them for what they do or how they present themselves, I have seen them in a more real and clear light, as children of God who suffer. Though their wounds and sufferings come out in different ways, they clearly love God and love each other, and as St. John of the Cross said: “In the evening of our life, we shall be judged by love alone.”
I have been blessed to see so many smiles on students faces as well as my own as I have been able to see the beautiful humanity that is here in Browning. I ask for prayers for these students, their families, and the many immersion trips that will take place in the future at this school. These students are our family in the Church, and suffer just like us, just in a different way. I am very happy I came on the trip to see this new perspective and am very excited to continue to learn to love and see these students as God sees them.
Ryan Frampton, Senior, Carroll College
Browning, Day 1, March 10, 2025 De La Salle Blackfeet School
Today was our first day working at the catholic school in Browning and it was absolutely wonderful! I got to work with the fourth and fifth graders and they were a blast. I was deeply moved by their simple joy. Their passion and excitement for life was infections. Throughout day I found myself being unable to stop grinning. I was pleasantly surprised by the kids sense of humor. I was laughing so much that the kids started making fun of me for it. But I couldn’t help myself these kids are just so darn funny. One highlight from the day was getting to help this young sweet girl develop a story. She ended up deciding the main character would be her older sister Kaia. To help develop this character I gave her sheet with a list of questions. The first question on the page was “What does your character desire most” to this she responded “My character wants more than anything to be mean to her little brother in the morning.” Anyway, I thought it was hilarious. I finished out the school day playing dungeons and dragons upon one of the students request. It was my first introduction to D&D and I learned that each participant gets to pick a player name by which they are to be referred. The names included “Issi” “Dark Lord” and last but not least “Big Daddy”. After the school day we had a lovey couple with two young children share with us the unique blessings and struggles of the Blackfeet people. It was a truly insightful discussion. Overall it was a great day and I am very grateful to Browning community for welcoming us in to their lives for a week.
Andrew Devine, Senior
Day 5, Browning, March 14, 2024
From Grace: March 14, 2024:
We headed out a bit early this morning so we could spend some prayer time in Little Flower Parish. We spent our final day in the classroom, and things went pretty smoothly. Even in one week, we have started to build some relationships with the kids, and it was kind of hard to leave so soon. The sixth graders were very enthusiastic in saying goodbye!
This afternoon, we went for a hike in east glacier, near St Mary Lake. The weather was very good, it was sunny and above freezing. We went with two park rangers who pointed out some plants and animals, and told us a little bit about the history of the park. It was a good opportunity to learn a little while enjoying the beauty of nature.
Day 4, Browning, March 13, 2024
From Emma:
We opened today with Mass led by my class, the 7th graders! I loved getting to see how they went about assigning mass parts and studying for their roles earlier this week. All of the students were very eager to participate which I found very encouraging. Mass in Little Flower Parish was beautiful and I was very happy to finally get to visit the chapel space after unfortunately being unable to on Sunday. I spent the remainder of the day working one on one helping students complete some of their missing work. However, I think that the students worked very independently throughout the day and I appreciated the change from making sure that work was being completed to being able to act as an additional resource when they encountered questions.
Over this week I have really seen God’s presence in these kids; in their laughter, in their curiosity, and especially in their perseverance. These traits lead me to understand that although the circumstances of life feel like they divide us, at our core we are all connected both through our humanity and our status as God’s children. When I was preparing for this trip, I was expecting to feel more alienated as I entered this community that I knew very little about outside of their hardships but during my time here I have recognized the ways that this school feels familiar. I grew up attending a small Catholic private school and I see so much of my childhood in these classrooms; simultaneously I also understand even more clearly how privileged my upbringing made me. However, I think that it is important for me to acknowledge this difference and be able to recognize that the differences aren’t what connects us.
Day 3, Denver, March 13, 2024
Hello readers! Today we started off with the same routine of waking to blinding lights at 6am and walking down to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish to pray morning prayer. We stayed there afterwards to say mass, which featured a beautiful homily by Fr. Drew Hoffman about how the Lord will not forget us. After this we came back to do some personal prayer, while the cooking crew whipped up a delicious meal that included pancakes!, oatmeal, fruit, and ham and cheese sliders. We ended the morning with an amazing talk on poverty given by one of the CIC missionaries, Lidia. She talked about surrendering the material things we grasped as well as the spiritual things we grasped(like our sins, self-consciousness, anxieties, etc) in order to receive the gift of poverty.
After this talk came the preparation for the famous 
lunch in the park
We loaded up about 150 chairs,10 tables, boxes of donations, and the food. We arrived at the park and went to work handing out donations and serving food. I grabbed a plate of shepherd’s pie and talked with a man named Vince for the whole time. Although most of our conversation was pretty surface level stuff, he was very grateful for our conversation, and I was honored to spend some time existing with him. After lunch we divided into “Marian groups” where we broke down some of the deeper thoughts of our hearts. These talks were vulnerable and beautiful and could have lasted way longer than they did.
In the evening, we got some free time while the kitchen crew made us a splendid little burrito bar. This was shortly followed by night ministry, where half of the colleges were sent back out to the city to hang out with the poor, while the other half got free time. I went to a DoubleTree hotel that became a shelter, where I talked to a guy named Rick for the whole time. This man had crazy stories like opening for the band, Whitesnake, or hitting a bullseye from 150 yards away with a handgun. We drove back in a rain storm that was slowly becoming snow. There’s expected to be a few inches tomorrow, so praise God for the things we can’t control (even though it was 60 degrees yesterday). Overall, today was a little bit deeper and I can easily say this trip has changed my life. Thanks for reading!
Asher out
Day 3, March 12, 2024, Browning
From Katie:
Our second day in the classroom had much more ease than our first day. It was a day that practiced patience and consistency. Throughout the day, the 4th and 5th graders started opening up to me and befriending me as a role model. Although there were parts of the day that were difficult, there was so much fulfillment in being present with the children and community. From playing sharks and minnows to helping children practice their reading skills and learning bits and pieces of the Blackfeet language to visiting with members of the faculty, I have fallen in love with this community and the way in which each individual cares for one another like family. The roots are deep within this community and even through historical trauma, hardship and violence within their lives, there is a deep sense of love that the community shares for one another. This experience has helped me acknowledge my blessings and embrace gratitude for the life I have. There is so much goodness and learning opportunities within the Blackfeet community, the gifts of humility and everlasting love have persevered within me.
During sunset I embarked on a beautiful evening walk with Emma, I enjoyed singing happy tunes, listening to the river clap among the rocks and watching the amber sunset fall to sleep behind the rocky blue mountains. When arriving back to the cabin, I loved having dinner with our guest teachers tonight and asking questions, listening to their wisdom, and playing with their children. The night ended with a beautiful closing prayer and day reflection, a perfect way to end the day.
I have greatly enjoyed “doing life” with these passionate students and faculty members accompanying me on this trip. I realize the beauty and power this opportunity offers, the memories, laughter and cultural insight will accompany me throughout my entire life journey. I will deeply miss this community and I am forever thankful to be able to spend a week with the Blackfeet community.
From Sarah:
Hi friends!
Today was the second day with the kids, and it was a lot easier than yesterday. Yesterday, I felt like I had failed the kids and that I was going to be dreading going back every day. However, I really just needed to think about it in a different way. So, I prayed more and really considered the Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta’s words on service through Mary; “Lend me your heart” was her prayer to Mary. This morning I offered up my day to her, asked her to use me as a she fit and asked for her heart to see these kids as they are. As I came into the day today, I came in with hope that I would offer myself up, not my work and that something about me would be worthwhile for the kids.
I felt that the kids needed to see that they could be vulnerable with me, so I offered up my vulnerability first during our morning circle up. I think it did work because I had more students come and ask for help and just want to talk with me. One student even gave me a book recommendation! I am so determined to finish this book, just so I can talk about it with her. I also got closer to another student when we were working on an assignment together, she had asked me what I knew about the Blackfoot tribe and I was honest in the fact that I didn’t know much. She really wanted to hear what I had to say so I answered honestly, “I’m here to learn just as much as you are.” It was really cool to see her so content and maybe even grateful for my answer. She just sort of unwound. Of source the day had its lows as well, but I was grateful for today and I’m excited for how tomorrow will play out; hopefully just as well
Peace and Prayers,
Sarah
Day 2, March 12, 2024,Denver
Hi all, Tess reporting for duty here! Today started off bright and early with morning prayer at 6:30 in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. After breakfast and a few house chores, we were off to the streets to meet the homeless of Denver, the many friends of Christ in the City. My team walked 20th street and met Marcus, a man with a passion and talent for sketching, and especially portraits. Our team missionary, Olivia, brought him some chalk, which he was happy to accept- we learned that chalk is his favorite medium! (Seen in the picture sketching a chalk portrait of Mason, one of the Kansas seminarians).
Following street ministry was mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Praying at mass, this verse kept coming to my heart- “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Over the two days we have been here, my favorite part of the day has been walking the streets and talking with the homeless. It has been much easier than I expected- I am increasingly in awe and admiration of their humility, vulnerability, and gentleness of heart. I feel that not many people instinctively want to work with the homeless, (including me before this trip) and yet the fruits I have received from getting to know and love them are much greater than anything I could have imagined! Truly, the Lord’s yoke is easy. The world’s yoke of self-service, the path of least resistance, is indeed not easy at all!
The afternoon’s highlights included a talk on mercy given by missionary Fintan, debriefs on the day, and spike ball games in the park! As the result of an unfortunate series of events, the ball ended up in the storm drain. Shortly after we rescued it from there, it somehow got lodged 17 feet up in a tree:/ Following multiple rescue attempts and methods, we were finally able to get it down and the game continued.
The evening included a nice dinner of turkey soup, and a community movie (ft. Hercules) and karaoke night! Then came night prayer and afterwards a stop at the famous Little Man ice cream, the perfect end to our second full day in Denver!
Carroll College Campus Ministry 