Serving with Faith in Costa Rica

Nine Bishop Lynch students and three faculty embarked on a summer trip that was so much more than a vacation. On a mission of service and faith, Friars traveled to Pejibaye, Costa Rica, alongside peers from local Catholic high schools, to spend a week growing in faith and responding to the needs of the people they served. Students created cement sidewalks outside of area churches, painted classrooms, and played with schoolchildren, returning to their home base at Nuestra Señora de Lourdes parish each evening for Mass and reflection.

“Mission trips are important for our students because they open our eyes to the different cultures, lifestyles, and experiences of people throughout the world,” shared BL Campus Minister Laura Gauthier, one of the trip chaperones. “They challenge us to arrive back home changed for the better, equipped to live more fully with God, and inspired to serve those around us.”

A highlight for many Bishop Lynch missionaries was joining with other young people from Pejibaye for a youth event on Pentecost Sunday. Together, they sang and danced, shared a meal, and enjoyed an impromptu game of soccer, connecting with one another through laughter and shared experiences that transcended linguistic barriers.