News Post

A dozen St. Joseph’s Academy students spent May 31-June 6 in Belize, working with Hand in Hand Ministries to build a home. Hand in Hand offers immersion trips to Belize, Appalachia, Nicaragua and Louisville to transform the lives of trip participants and those being served. The organization provides quality education, safe housing and healthcare for those in need.

The students were accompanied by Communications Assistant Madeline Ortego and Assistant Campus Minister Rachael Duchmann.

“I always hope that the girls come home with a little more appreciation and gratitude in their hearts for all they have been given and move forward knowing that they have the capacity to truly make a difference in someone’s life,” Ortego said. 

In addition to building the house, the travelers enjoyed Sunday mass at St. Martin de Porres Church, visiting a woodcarving shop, planning the blessing of the house, visiting a combination preschool and daycare facility and seeing a performance of the Garifuna Dancers. They also took day trips to the Altun Ha Mayan Temples and Caye Caulker Island. 

“It is incredible to watch the girls go into the week with no kind of building experience and watch as they learn and work together to get the house done on time,” Ortego said. “It is also special to watch the girls form relationships with the community members who help to build the house, as well as the man we were building the house for, Rene. While we are there to work, it is these connections and interactions that I think make a lasting impact on the girls when they come home."