A Mission of Service

Campus Ministry’s service-immersion mission trip programming introduces Elms College students, faculty, and staff to those around the world who are voiceless and marginalized, while encouraging participants to reflect on their experiences so they might better discern ways to actively engage with the world.

Elms offers a number of week-long mission service opportunities in destinations in the U.S. and abroad. The goals of the mission trips are to teach community building, further the mission of the college and the Sisters of St. Joseph, implement the Catholic social teachings that form the base of the Elms experience, instill the importance of cultural sensitivity and service to others, and encourage students to engage in service in new environments and cultures.

Steps to Service

There are four phases to each trip:

  1. selection process
  2. preparation program
  3. on-site program
  4. return program

Students pay their own way, but there are numerous college-sponsored fundraisers you can participate in to raise money, as well as soliciting individual sponsors to finance your trip. Every trip is led by student leaders, who are overseen by faculty and staff on the trips.  Previous sites include Baltimore, Maryland; San Jose, California; Concordia, Kansas; New Orleans, Louisiana; Trenton, New Jersey; Houston, Texas; El Paso, Texas; Ponce, Puerto Rico; Mandeville, Jamaica; Chinandega, Nicaragua.