Welcoming Student Service Groups

The OSP-IHM Border Community has a commitment to accompany high school and university students who would like to participate in the mission. Students and their chaperones stay at the Basilica Hotel which is on the grounds of the National Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle. Student service groups often choose to participate in a Border Witness Program provided by ARISE (sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy) as well as volunteer at the Humanitarian Respite Center (HRC) which is under the direction of Catholic Charities. Group leaders are responsible for contacting both organizations and setting up their schedule of activities. The sisters in the OSP-IHM Border Mission are available to meet with the students and their leaders. They volunteer side by side with them in McAllen, Texas, and in Reynosa, Mexico (if the group opts to cross the border). They also share prayer and one or more meals with them in their convent “Mary, Comfort of Migrants.

During the past five weeks, we had the privilege of accompanying the following groups:

1. Twelve students and two teachers from Holy Name Academy, Tampa, Florida (where Sister Lisa Perkowski ministers) and
2. Four students and two group leaders (including Sister Donna Korba) from Marywood University, Scranton, PA.

We look forward to meeting more students from the schools and universities where our OSP and IHM sisters minister!