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
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
Carroll College Campus Ministry 