St Ignatius College Prepatory - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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I. Vojhti Vifay 2. Koylo Gogorty wirh 2nd graders from Dolores Mission School 3 Jock Maxwell, Noiolic Per- kins, Joey Murphy, Koylo Gogartty 4, The Eosi IA Family with 5 6 Ryan Geraghty, Jarvis Moriot- egue 7. Jock Maxwell, Joey Murphy Allhough a 4:30am wake up call was not alwoys welcome the first week, shoring stories over our homemade breakfast with the immigrant workers of Boyle Heights made it all worthwhile. The members of East LA Immersion '07 became a part of the Boyle Heights community and we were embraced in solidarity. Wo spent our mornings and afternoons working in the class- rooms of Dolores Mission School, and the bonds we created with our students were something I know we have not forgotten. From tutoring young students in math to playing dodge ball ot recess (and losing to the 3rd graders...) we focused on working with the community rather than serving it. During our work at Dolores Mission, we went to lively masses and learned about the condition of East LA from the people who live there. Our second week, we moved to the Catholic Worker house where we focused on justice as it relates to poverty and hun- ger. Working in the Hippie Kitchen among people who dedicate their lives to serving over 1000 meals a day to the homeless and hungry inspired us during the long days of buttering bread and washing dishes. Nightly reflections allowed us to incorporate the essential spiritual aspect of immersion into our ex- periences, and our group bond strengthened on a deeper level. These we learned during these two weeks of nonstop service, learning, and fun in East LA transcend our day-to doy experiences here at SI. 26

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For the other seniors that went on immersion-l'm sure you remember us-(On 'trip discovery night' we were the group obnox- iously screaming when we heard we would be going to Costa Rica). For two weeks we ran a camp for the kids of San Bias, Costa Rica, setting up activities and fun events during their winter break off from school. In the afternoons, we helped the community by painting the bull ring, which they use for many of the town's celebrations, and by building kneelers in the church for the com- fort of the older members of the community. We met so many gener- ous people who were willing to share their lives with us: their food and homes, birthday celebra- tions, and family outings. Although most of us went on this immersion expect- ing to give more than re- ceive, towards the end we realized that they were really the ones who had changed us and given us so much more than we had given them. We developed strong relation- ships with members of the community and with each other. I love you Costa Rica 07'! Special thanks Allison, Ms. Jones, and Mr. Cafasso. •lorena Camanera '08 Cchs£ t 1. Lorena Comoreno and Chris Martin 2. Morgan 3. The Coslo Rico group spends a fun day in »he sun 4. Lauren Padilla 5. Ryan Falk 6. Chris Duhn 25

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oway, it's not the travel distance that matters at all with Saint Ignatius' Immersion program, but rather the dimension and definition added to a life in progress. It's liv- ing simply, acting justly, building community with solidarity, keep- ing faith, and growing in faith. It can happen anywhere...and for the eight of us our Summer of Immersion happened in our own backyard, in our great city by the bay, forty years after the other Summer of Love. -Alessandro Zanassi . Sumner Fonloinc 2. The F's sleeping orrongcmcn! 3. Ir. Shaughnessy. Alessandro onossi 4. The SF group por- cipo’es in o protest 5. The F group 6. Audrey Neumon, atie Nolon. Rian Dinccn 7. he SF qroop SctJls FriUicisct What I came to realize and truly appreciate was that San Francisco, a city that I considered so recognizable to me, was also a very unfamiliar and foreign seven square miles of space. The depth and diversity within my very own backyard became quickly evident to me as various life situations, stories and events of its homeless citizens were individually told and retold. What a truly amazing experience those two weeks were. Whether it's a car ride or plane ride 27