Leaders Shelley Hopkins, Pat Kennedy, and Fr. Francis Kalaw, as well as students Kyle Pingree and John Skeet, share their experiences in Jamaica.

Why did you want to participate in the Archbishop Mitty High School (AMHS) immersion program in Jamaica? 

Kyle Pingree (student, now alumnus): I wanted to immerse myself in a culture unfamiliar to me, push my comfort boundaries, and experience simple living. For Jamaica specifically, the lush vegetation and relaxed island tempo were attractive characteristics that drew me to choose Jamaica.

Pat Kennedy (teacher): I have participated in several immersion trips as a leader and have seen how they can have a tremendous impact on our students' faith development, worldview, and their commitment to service moving forward. The trips offer a great opportunity for students to disconnect digitally and build community in an intentional way while living simply.

John Skeet (student, now alumnus): I was really interested in visiting another country and working with the people there. I wanted to get to know another culture and see what it was like to live outside the U.S.

What did you find transformative, personally and spiritually, in Jamaica?

Shelley Hopkins (leader): I have never met such a welcoming and nurturing community. I was inspired by the work of the sisters and teachers and moved by the stories of the folks we met, and I can't wait to go back! I am especially thankful that one of my sons will experience this amazing trip this summer.

Father Francis Kalaw (leader): What surprised me most was how tangible God works in our lives through seemingly mundane and ordinary encounters. This was especially evident in the daily conversations I had with our students, the retreat house staff, bus drivers, and the wonderful groups of people we worked with in Mandeville, Jamaica.

John: Before the Jamaica trip, I will be honest. I always saw it as a chore or obligation. But after the trip, I’ve tried to be helpful and kind to everyone I know or don’t know. I believe the trip made me a better person because it helped me see that all people need is a little help in life.

Describe your work, your biggest challenges, and what inspired you when you were there.

Shelley: We connected with people, built houses, organized, painted the nails of the elderly, spoke with students, and played with children. As a teacher, I was inspired by the teachers and sisters we met. Their unwavering and dedicated service with such limited resources was incredible.

Kyle: Some of my favorite memories from the trip revolved around the many schools we visited. One of the most transformative ideas for me was that regardless of setting, situation, or resources, kids are kids, and people are people. All the young children in the daycares and elementary schools had this genuine light and happiness about them, and despite lacking the educational toys and tools I had access to growing up, the students laughed, learned, and enjoyed school. It reminded me of how easily we get caught up in unimportant and unnecessary vices and material possessions, and how, at its core, simple living is the truest and most pure way to live.

John: I had the unique opportunity to aid in all the stages of building a house. I learned how to use hand tools efficiently, work in a team, protect wood, and many other handy skills. I also visited a home for the elderly, where we cleaned and shared stories with the residents. It was inspiring to work side by side with skilled and caring people who wanted to do what they could to make others' lives easier. The caregivers and the construction workers helped me see how easy it was to do good.

Why is an immersion trip an important experience for an Archbishop Mitty student or any youth? 

Shelley: Students are able to live out our mission. They share a kinship with another community. They see a bigger world and learn so much about the culture, history, and language of the places they visit.

Pat: Immersion trips help AMHS achieve its goals of developing intellectually competent, faith-filled, respectful leaders who are committed to justice, which can be seen clearly on these trips. Alumni frequently talk about how formative immersion trips were for them and how they were a highlight socially and educationally for them during their time at Mitty.

John: As a student who lives in the Bay Area, immersion trips are important because we don’t often get to experience a reality unlike the one at home. The new perspective helps us appreciate what we have and the things we often take for granted. 

How was watching the students encounter a new culture and economic realities and dedicate themselves to service a personally and spiritually transformative experience?

Shelley: It was an absolute joy—not just to watch but to join in with them, work alongside them, share in their reflections, and get to know them on a whole other level. I have never felt so proud of an entire group of students; they were phenomenal!

Pat: I am always grateful for the opportunity to see students step out of their comfort zones and see the world in a new way because of these trips. I am impressed by their reflections at our prayer services and liturgies, hearing how they understand their faith in new ways or have new questions about their faith resulting from their experiences on this immersion trip.

Father Francis: This was personally transformative for me because, as it later occurred to me, we do not need to accomplish things to experience grace; even not knowing what to do in the midst of building a house was a grace-filled moment. The opportunity to travel to Jamaica with the help and guidance of so many kind-hearted Jamaicans allowed us to receive this grace.