Southwest Montana News

Over spring break 2025, sixteen students from Carroll College took part in Caritas Service Immersion Trips organized by Campus Ministry. The initiative saw groups travel to Browning and Denver. In Browning, five students worked with Blackfeet students at the De La Salle Christian Brothers mission school, while eleven students served the homeless in Denver with Christ in the City.

Maria Szpilka, a first-year student from Helena, MT, reflected on her time in Denver, saying, "During my time in Denver, walking with the homeless, I experienced what it means to accompany others out of love. Fr. Boniface describes accompaniment as 'removing our sandals before the holy ground of the other's heart.' Through serving the poorest of the poor, I encountered the depth of God's love for each of their hearts, and His love for my own poverty and littleness. It was truly incredible to see how spiritually rich the homeless are, despite being materially poor, and I ended up leaving having received more than I gave."

These immersion trips are designed to provide students with experiences of God—termed "caritas" in Latin—through love and service. Whether assisting in education or engaging with people on the streets, students formed deep spiritual connections.

Charles Markham, a senior from Spokane, WA, shared his insights from Browning, "The Caritas trip to Browning was an incredibly beautiful opportunity that allowed me to get a new aspect of life. I think one of the biggest graces I received on this trip was just getting to know the elementary school kids and seeing the love that they had for one another. The children at De La Salle showed me that it is possible to have true, simple love, even in hard or difficult circumstances."

Sydney Forrey, a sophomore from Townsend, MT, mentioned the impact her time in Denver had, "Being in Denver brought so much joy and peace. Being able to meet new friends on the street was very beautiful. I was overcome with so much compassion and love for each person I encountered. My friend Tony who stands on 20th street had a birthday, and I got the beautiful gift of being able to celebrate his day. Christ in the City has and will always hold a very special place in my heart. Seeing all these young people having the same desire to serve our friends on the street was amazing!"

Macie Frans, a senior from Boise, ID, expressed her feelings, "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."

Clare Daley, a senior from West Yellowstone, MT, discussed her learnings, "I learned a lot about going through each day with the express intention to encounter others, wherever they are in life. These moments open our hearts to empathy and teach us how to better support one another’s emotional needs. I was shown incredible kindness from people I had just met—who have nothing, yet gave me so much—and I am honored to call them friends. This taught me how putting a few more moments and effort into an acquaintance can turn it into a relationship to always be remembered."

These service experiences illustrate the spirit and impact of students who chose to spend their break serving others, aligning with the Lenten values of almsgiving and compassion.