Serving Others
Going to Camillus House is an experience that everyone should have and I am glad that Belen gave me the opportunity. It was a nice break from routine that allowed us to serve the community and live out our Ignatian values of service. Being there was very humbling and it was a day I will never forget.
Camillus House is a charity dedicated to ending chronic homelessness in Miami. It is a faith based charity, founded by Brother Mathias Barrett in the 1960s. Starting from a simple overnight shelter, it grew to a place that now provides many services, such as housing, education, drug rehabilitation, and connecting homeless people with their loved ones.
Since last school year, under the direction of Mrs. Sylvia Davalos, students have been regularly going to Camillus House for a day of service. I was fortunate to go on the first service trip on April 6, 2017. Our day started off with a tour, given to us by two gentlemen, both of which were formerly homeless. They showed us the many things Camillus House has to offer, such as the garden, post office, and chapel. One of the services that impressed me the most was the clothing distribution center, where they give clothes to all the people that go. It is stocked with items they’ve received as donations and is very organized. We also saw the showers and a drug rehabilitation center. However, my favorite part was the art room. We saw a lot of beautiful paintings, from the surreal to the storytelling, and I could tell for many people there that it was a catharsis they needed. It was very touching.
After that, we ate lunch and got ready to serve the people. We were split up into groups, with separate jobs, such as salad bar, cooking, and physically handing out the food. I personally set up frozen food on trays to be baked, and also took out the trash. What impressed me about this was just how efficient it was. The kitchen was industrial-sized and was able to make food just like in our own cafeteria! More important than the process however, were the people. As we talked to all sorts of people, I came to the realization of how diverse they all were. They were young, old, disabled, just released from jail, and some even had jobs! It really made me think about how anybody can fall into being homeless and to recognize and treat everybody with respect.
After we served lunch, the day was over and we headed back to school. We discussed our experiences that day and our favorite moments of our time in Camillus House.
Looking back, this day affected me personally. It inspired me to continue serving the homeless. As for what could be gained from this, I think most kids will enjoy such a trip, and will take the lessons of service from it. In the end, it was a wonderful experience that exemplified our Jesuit values.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.