Day 6-7, Chicago, March 13-14, 2026
This morning we started our day with mass followed by our final breakfast with Ferris State University before their departure. They were great companions this week so their goodbye was a little bittersweet. After that we helped the sisters with their chores, which for me included cleaning up Ferris’ rooms with Alex, Kathryn, and Tyler. After lunch with the sisters, we got some free time, which we used for a group game of Scattergories (still shaking my head about me and Alex both saying artichoke dip for things that are in a refrigerator). After that we swung by the YMCA to say goodbye to the kids. We didn’t originally have this planned but all of us wanted to see them one more time since we didn’t get to say goodbye to them earlier. Another bittersweet goodbye.
For the evening we went to a Catholic Church called St. Andrew’s where we walked around the blocks inviting people to adoration and confession where they could light a candle and pray for peace. Alli and I were buddies and we encountered a lot of people that said no or just kept walking. After many rejections she said,” Please God just give us one yes.” We then ran into a man that was very friendly and asked us more about our invitation. He said that he was just praying in his apartment to God and that this was something he was going to really consider. We gave him some free books and a candle. His name was Joshua. I suppose both us and Joshua were the answers to each other’s prayers.
After our street walking shift, we did a holy hour in the church, which was accompanied by Sister Kate playing cello and Sister Maggie singing. It was angelic. On our drive back to the convent, I realized how close this group has gotten. It was 30 minutes straight of laughing and sharing God moments from the day, with a little freestyling in between. This was not the same group that arrived here just a couple of days ago. Even as individuals, we have all had strong movements in our hearts that will change the way we live back at Carroll.
The last adventure (Day 7) Friday morning we packed up and had our last mass with the sisters and the bishop. We then hopped on a bus to see the famous St. Patrick’s day tradition where they dye the Chicago river green! There were so many people and the river actually turned a bright green! After navigating some city traffic(with mini hacky sac at the bus stop) We had one last meal with the sisters and played another short game of hacky sac before our emotional and final goodbye. We’re on the last flight home as of now. The Lord has taught us all to trust him this week by frequently giving us perfectly timed arrivals and departures whether it be busses, trains, or planes. His hand has truly been guiding this trip despite the delays, challenges, and incredulities. Thank you for reading about our adventures! Until next time.
Asher signing out.
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
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 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 