Due to COVID-19, the 2021 Anselmian B.R.E.A.K will be altered to offer experiences that stay true to our mission but abide by the current safety guidelines. Stay tuned for more information! Anselmian B.R.E.A.K Missions are student-led service trips overseen by Campus Ministry during winter and spring breaks. In 2020, Anselmian B.R.E.A.K Mission trips celebrated their 30th year with 18 domestic service trips and a trip to Puerto Rico. These mission trips enable students to learn about Catholic social teaching while spending time living and working with those most in need.
The "hands on" nature of this program, focusing on service and community, gives participants the chance to build and renovate homes, tutor children, and serve in soup kitchens, as well as to visit families and individuals in the community and hear people’s stories. Through listening to the journey of refugees, understanding the joys and struggles a person with different abilities has, and learning the personal stories of individuals experiencing homelessness, students recognize the dignity of each person and strive for kinship with one another. It is our hope that students will take the stories, people, and experiences with them and make positive changes in their lives when they return to the hilltop and their home communities.
Anselmian B.R.E.A.K, formerly known as Service & Solidarity, sponsored by the Office of Campus Ministry, engages Saint Anselm students in social justice education, relationship building, and advocacy through the lens of our Benedictine identity. Our goal is to educate students to become more keenly aware of each person’s innate dignity and our shared common humanity.
Anselmian B.R.E.A.K. Vision
- Immersing oneself in social justice education, reflection, and a hands–on service experiences.
- Encountering the love of God in individuals of marginalized communities while journeying alongside peers.
- Engaging in kinship as a means towards true advocacy and lifelong solidarity.
Vision – To offer an educational service immersion experience where students have the opportunity to
- Immerse in hands on service alongside peers and members of marginalized communities, through meeting community members, listening to and understanding what the community needs and learn how to walk with those marginalized toward justice
- Learn about a particular social injustice and/or marginalized population, through attending educational meetings in the months leading up to the week of immersion. Education topics may include – Catholic Social Teaching, social action, privilege, advocacy, and the specific population or community in which they will engage
- Engage in self –reflection by reflecting on where they fit in civically, and how their own privilege and power affect injustices in society
- Explore one’s faith journey – by learning about justice from a Catholic, Benedictine perspective and be encouraged to discover where the Divine is in the world and in their life.
- Collaborate with peers in sharing what has been learned through continued reflection, debriefing, and action upon return
Anselmian B.R.E.A.K. Pillars
“Anselmian B.R.E.A.K”. - Benedictine, Reflection, Education, Advocacy, and Kinship.
BENEDICTINE
The Benedictine heritage of Saint Anselm College is at the core of this program. The Benedictine Hallmarks, values that are instilled throughout campus life, such as stability, humility, hospitality, community, conversatio, and prayer are united to the pillars of this program and will shape how participants are formed and educated throughout their BREAK experience.
REFLECTION
Without reflection, true change will not be sustained. This is why throughout the experience, students will gather with peers to discuss and process all they are learning, hearing, and witnessing. Through these conversations, students will be encouraged, both outright and indirectly, to reflect on their personal values and goals.
Another component of reflection is through the lens of faith. This program is supervised through Campus Ministry and at its core is the desire to respond to the Catholic call to uphold the dignity of each human being and care for the poor and marginalized. We welcome students of all or no faith to participate and encourage them to use this time as an opportunity to explore faith and how they may be enriched by the insights of others faiths throughout the experience.
EDUCATION
Education is essential in truly becoming a person who lives out social action. Participants will attend educational meetings throughout the months leading up to the week of immersion, learning from experts and experienced members of communities on topics such as Catholic Social Teaching, racial justice, social action, solidarity, privilege, and advocacy. The Office of Campus Ministry will collaborate with faculty and site coordinators to ensure experienced individuals are sharing information with participants that will create a more holistic approach and work with students to understand the long-term learning goals of this program in motivating them to change and be civic and faith leaders of justice in the world.
ADVOCACY
The advocacy pillar of the program aims at ensuring students realize injustice does not exist simply in the week of immersion, nor solely in that one population, and that it takes more than one week to create change. That is why this program choses to return to the same communities and engage with the same organizations year after year. We know that the hard work of justice does not happen during a week of immersion, no matter how many cans one stacks in a pantry shelf or bowls of soup one fills. Our hope is to establish long term relationships with the communities our students engage in. By continuing to show up for these communities and valuing the partnership, we hope to model for our students that advocacy is a lifetime work. True change occurs through education and advocacy.
Upon returning from the week of immersion, each group is encouraged to continue to support the community or population in general or locally by engaging in an advocacy action plan by executing a money or item drive, educational marketing or program, community organizing, or social entrepreneurship. In addition, each participant will choose an individual goal and will be asked, to select the path of further commitment or inquiry whether that be in faith, service, or social justice education. Some ideas are to participate in Humanities institute, NHIOP or Center for Ethics to continue learning and educating; join a RENEW group or attend a retreat for further faith development; or select a site to work with for hands on community engagement through the Meelia Center for Community Engagement.
KINSHIP
Throughout the experience, participants learn with, share and build community with their peers. Students are encouraged to step outside their comfort zone and engage in the larger community they are immersed in. Ideally, participants will encounter and learn in a new community among peers and individuals of different background and ideologies, inspiring reflection and growth
Kinship is about understanding our common humanity. As Fr. Greg Boyle says “The truth about us is that we all need healing. Who is the service provider and who is the service recipient? – it’s mutual.” This is the mentality we hope to instill in the participants. They are not going to serve, they are going to encounter, to learn, listen, and love.
Anselmian B.R.E.A.K. Values
Simplicity, Reflection, Service, Social Justice
- Simplicity – while safety is a top priority, comfort is not. Participants may find themselves sleeping on the floor of a church basement, eating meals at the soup kitchen they serve at, and going without luxuries common to them such as access to their cell-phone, wi-fi, and daily showers.
- Reflection – processing and discussing what participants witness and feel throughout the experience is a necessary component in ensuring the experience is long lasting. Participants are not required to hold a specific religious conviction, but we do ask that students use this program as an opportunity for social analysis and personal reflection and growth.
- Service – each B.R.E.A.K. offers some element of service. Some experiences have more direct service where participants work with and alongside those receiving services while others have more indirect service opportunities such as building a product that they will not directly give to a person. B.R.E.A.K. is not about doing projects for the sake of having something to do, so at times, groups may spend time talking with agencies about their mission and what issues they address. Relationship building is one of the essential components of this program.
- Social Justice – throughout the experience, individuals will learn about root causes of injustice and poverty they encounter. These educational opportunities will address political, social, economic, and religious issues at work in the community. Students will return from the experience with a sense of how their civic engagement impacts particular social concerns
This program began as “Spring Break Alternative” or “SBA” in 1990-91 with the first Campus Ministry sponsored trip to Orland, Maine during Spring Break consisting of 19 student participants and Campus Minister Dan Leahy. In the 2011-2012 academic year, Winter Break trips were added and the program expanded to “Service and Solidarity Missions Program”. For the 2021-2022 academic year, the program got a new vision to focus more on education and advocacy and became known as Anselmian B.R.E.A.K.
Why “BREAK” and not “Service and Solidarity”?
In 2012, when Campus Ministry began offering alternative breaks over winter, the program needed a more encompassing name than “Spring Break Alternative” and the program was renamed, Service & Solidarity. This title, service and solidarity, highlights the long-term goals of the program, that through a week of serving alongside others, students would learn about injustice, justice, and love and would choose to return to the hilltop with new perspective and their actions beyond the week would illustrate a life of solidarity with all of humanity.
However, after some reflection, it has become evident that the programs size, rapid growth, and popularity lent itself and its participants to misunderstand the depth and breadth of solidarity and perpetuated the ideas of voluntourism, white saviorism and thus racism. We recognize the structure of the past program may have caused harm for the communities we intended to serve, for this we in Campus Ministry apologize and vow to do better. We remain committed to preparing our students to live seeking justice and equity, and through our re-examination of the program we are revising and moving forward to be an anti-racist program. It is our intention to update this program by committing to educate participants and leaders in a more just and comprehensive manner.
The Anselmian B.R.E.A.K. program has a larger emphasis on education and kinship. We believe that when our students are educated on social action and the root causes of systemic injustice it will prepare them to truly encounter another human being. The student is then more equipped to engage in long term advocacy, which will ultimately lead to a life of solidarity where every action is with and for individuals who are marginalized.
In many aspects, Anselmian B.R.E.A.K. is similar to Service & Solidarity – an opportunity for students to engage outside of the classroom in service immersion, being the hands and feet of Christ – however, in order to address its shortcomings there will now be a greater and more intentional focus on diverse education in hopes that more directed learning, discussion, and reflection will allow the student participants to engage in this immersion experience and continue advocacy work, and not see it simply as a “service trip”.
Additionally, this program offers an immersion experience during academic breaks, and there are many things this program aims to break and break down
- Break barriers
- Break the chains of injustice (see Isaiah 58:6)
- Break down our preconceived notions
- Break free and work toward liberation with those who are oppressed
Anselmian P.A.U.S.E. service opportunities are also available for those who cannot commit to a week of service!
Fundraising Information
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The anticipated yearly total cost of the program is $40,000, although simplicity is one of our values, we must pay for the food, travel, and use of volunteer facilities in each community, and we will send a donation to the organizations we partner with. Anselmian B.R.E.A.K. is an opportunity for students and all who support them to use their time and talent to spread the love they’ve received and lift up the voices of those in marginalized communities. We would greatly appreciate any help you can offer, whether that be financially or through prayerful support. Please know your donation will make a difference in the lives of the students who participate in Anselmian B.R.E.A.K. and the individuals they meet along the way.
- Online Donation Form
Campus Ministry Coordinator History
Dan Leahy coordinated and supervised the program from 1990-1997. Susan Gabert coordinated the program from 1997-2005. Since 2005, she has supervised and supported a variety of Campus Ministers who have coordinated the program (and at times filled in as coordinator). Those Campus Ministers are:
2005-2007 - Patricia-Boyle McKenna
2008-2013 - Joycelin Raho (Tremblay)
During this time, Claire Markham and Michael Quinn assisted
2014-2016 – Andy Fellows
During this time, Melissa Gismervick assisted
2018 - present – Riley (Duggan) Casey ’15
Leader and Site History
1991 (20 participants) - led by: Dan Leahy
1992 (35 participants) – led by: Kevin Ryan; Annemarie Considine; Lisa Golden; John Morse
1993 (38 participants) – led by: Kevin Ryan; Jenn Sargent; Kathie Kobelski; Jeff Starratt
1994 (40 participants) – led by: Kevin Kaupp; Lynn Larocque; Jay Pawlyk; Katie Kelly
1995 (46 participants) – led by: Keri McDonough; Kevin Kaupp; Jim Gosselin; Liz LaMontagne; Julianne Murphy; Jeanne Kiley
1996 (56 participants) – led by: Keri McDonough; Alanna Ryan; Drew Bennett; Lauren Barnard; Carrie Salvo; James St. Clair
1997 (64 participants) – led by: Andy Perenick; Alanna Ryan; Nancy Ayapan; Mike Sibulis; Lisa MacDonald; Jenn Cunningham; John Albert; Michele Bird; Paul Makuc
1998 (86 participants) – led by: Andy Perenick; Greg Cedrone; Sarah Gelinas; Rob Kiem; Caroline Sheeran; Pat Mulrooney; Kate McDonnell; Joe Fisher; Lori Napleone; Phil Zappone;
1999 (94 participants) – led by: Pat Mulroney; Erin Dubovick; Ryan McCann; Karen Basterache; Brendan McGourthey; Adam Ghander; Emily Coyne; Kelly O’Malley; Kelly Doherty; Caroline Sheeran; Greg Cedrone
2000 (121 participants) – led by: Andrew Harding; Jen Bianchi; Tim Maloney; Siobaun Maus; Kerry Shea: Mira Muniz; Greg Cedrone; Erin Dubovick; Kate McCormack; Mario Fratantonio; Ryan McCann; Jess Piecuch; Emily Coyne; Jeremy Barnard; Kevin Daly; Danielle Alderman; Matt Toombs; Amy Hrobak
2001 (153 participants) – led by: Gary Hughs; Christina Porter; Kate Cooley; Nicole Gianndrea; Sean Horrigan; Amy Hrobak; Kyle Woolley; Brenda Nunes; John O’Malley; Mira Muniz; Kerry Shea; Petter Kinney; Amanda Morrison; Bob Landry; Lynne Ruozzi; Dannielle Alderman; Ryan McCann; Tim Maloney; Gia Rosenburg
2002 (173 participants) – led by: Tim Cole; Colleen Henry; Patricia Boyle; Nate Kunzman; Lynne Ruozzi; David Tencza; Ryan Gazzola; Jess Rochelleau; Melissa Mooney; Geoff Raby; Jason Tremblay; Patricia Ridge; Katie LaRoche; Chris Ambrose; Brendan Pomeroy; Julie O’Malley; Jose Suarez; Katie O’Neill; Dan O’Brien; Tracey Dickinson; Amy Hrobak; John O’Malley
2003 (190 participants) – led by: Katie O’Neill; Ian Brown; Dan O’Brien; Laena Fallon; Nate Kunzman; Julie O’Malley; Tim Cole; Melissa Mooney; Chantal Goodno; Jess Rochelleau; Chris Casey; Megan Flight; Joe Emmons; Kristin Scalia; Tim McIsaac; Caitlin Kattany; Ben Camerota; Patricia Ridge; Bob Osgood; Amy Corrigan; Katie Galanes; Paul Furfari; Chelsea Pierce; John Bozicas; Caitlin Lenahan
2004 (173 participants) – led by: Brendon Pomeroy, Chantal Goodno, Brian McKernan, Kristin Scalia, Joe Emmons, Katie LaRoche, Paul Furfari, Heather Martin, John Bozicas, Liz Shaw, James McCowen, Mary Gelinas, Caitlin Lenehan, Jessie Virgilio, Steph Jalbert, Tom Cronin, Ben Camerota, Jenny Gonsalves, Meg Flight, Laura Bologna, Cailtin Kattany, Matt McMorris, James Melone, Angela Sirois, Jen Sylvester, Margaret VanderBaan, Chris Farley and Nickie Lora
2005 (190 participants) – led by: James Melone, Erin Dussault, Ben Camerota, Angela Sirois, Laena Fallon, Lindsay McKenna, Josh Aiello, Margaret VanderBaan, Monica Henry, Tom Cronin, Jenny Gonsalves, Chris Farley, Christen Cutler, Jeff Stocker, Beth Jarvis, Shannon Cavanaugh, Jil Baker, John Blackwell, Lindsey Jacobsen, James McCowan, Ann Donnelly, Matt McMorris, Tama Baker, Tom Digiussepe, Rebekah Joseph, Ed Smith, Gary Senecal, and Joseph LoConte
2006 (170 participants) – led by: James McCowan, Jillian Holmberg, Jon Blackwell, Kelly O'Brien, Christen Cutler, Katelyn Bagtaz, Matt McMorris, Tess Franzino, Dan Tencza, Lindsay McKenna, Erin Riley, Matt Emmons, Julia Power, Trevor Laverriere, Barbara Joslin, Amy Ducharme, Allison Ahern, Emily Rocheleau, Erin Latina ,Kevin Bersell, Heather West, Ashley Capachione, Laura Vincent, Jess Costa, Jeff Stocker, Nickie Lora
2007 (168 participants) – led by: Allie Ahern, Katelyn Bagtaz,Natasha Begin, Kev Bersell, John Blackwell, Mary-claire Boyle,Christen Cutler, Laura Eagan, Cara Hanscom, Julia Kilcer, Erin Latina, Trevor Laverriere, James McCowan, Liz McEvoy, Mike McKay, Julie Michalowski, Mike Nicholson, Tara Niedemier, Caitlin O’Leary, Marcus Pratt, Emily Rocheleau, Emerald Russell, Theresa Sorrentino, Sarah Vickers
2008 (162 participants) – led by: Alexandra Reilly; Colleen Hoseason; Danielle Ricci; Elizabeth McEvoy; James Bradley; Jennifer Galat; Jillian Bailey; John Normile; Kara Beyer; Katelyn D'Entremont; Katie Powers; Kevin Golen; Kevin Powers; Kristen Copithorne; Kristen Lacourciere; Lyndsay Reilly; Marcus Pratt; Meredith Stanizzi; Michael McKay; Michael P. Perkins; Sarah Raabis; Sarah Vickers
2009 (218 participants) – led by: Alexandra Reilly; Allen Huberdeau; Brad Landry; Catherine Strazdins; Elyse L. Foley; Gerald Cournoyer; James Bradley; Jenna Pajak; Jessica L. Marzik; Joshua Dupuis; Kara Beyer; Katelyn D'Entremont; Katherine Aceto; Katie Powers; Kristen Copithorne; Kristen Lacourciere; Kristen McGoey; Lianne E. Henderson; Mary Donahue; Maureen E. O'Leary; Melissa A. Delury; Norma Dhanaraj; Quinn Flatley; Sarah Vickers; Stacy Cohen; Stefanie Iannalfo; Alejandro Echeverri; Patricia Ingoldsby; Lauren Szablak; Michael Perkins
2010 (238 participants) – led by: Ashley Pratte; Elizabeth Harrison; Elizabeth Ahearn; Danielle Lemoyne; Erin Sullivan; Jessica Marzik; Jonathan Lesieur; Kandi Winchenbach; Kathryn O’Loughlin; Kimberly Lane; Lauren Szablak; Lianne Henderson; Matthew Giroux; Matthew McDonald; Meghan Cadigan; Meghan Hart; Michael Perkins; Molly Sherry; Nicholas Ouellette; Patricia Ingoldsby; Rebecca Newell; Robert Mitchell; Robert DeAngelis; Sara Griffin; Stefanie Iannalfo; Timothy Endicott; Kevin Ward; Devon Katz; Meg Wood; Ryan Garrett.
2011 (215 participants) – led by: Samantha Bagley; Kayla Bassett; Patrick Casey; Tristen Curtin; Chris Daniels; Rob DeAngelis; Sarah Disarro; Caitlyn Donovan ; Kelly Giaquinto; Sara Griffin; Melanie Kessler; Madeline Kolodziej; Mark Lane; Jon Lesieur; Kristen MacNeil; Matt McDonald; Stephen Moran; Marysa Morin; Becca Newell; Ashley Pratte; Kristen Raymond; Jacqui Rossignol; Meg Ryan; Morgan Seney; Matthew Shaw; Caitlin Stromberg; Erin Sullivan; Kevin Ward; Leah Wholey
2012 (194 participants) – led by: Samantha Bagley; Jennifer Brine; Jessica Buckley; Pat Casey; Leanne D’Entremont; Sarah DiSarro; Caitlyn Donovan; Sara Duane; Melanie Kessler; Kristen MacNeil; Justin Mambro; Katelyn McCarthy; Steve Moran; Matt Pendergast; Shaun O’Halloran; Chris Powers; Kristen Raymond; Audrey Quigley; Jacqui Rossignol; Meaghan Ryan; Justine Saabs; Amy Sallese; Teresa Scalzi; Morgan Seney; Nicole Silvia; Shane Smith; Karissa Soby; John Surabian; Kevin Ward; Bridget White; Leah Wholey;
2013 (194 participants) – led by: Alexander Morella; Allyn Doyle; Ashley Giddinge; Audrey Quigley; Brandon Early; Bridget Dodson; Catherine Beaulieu; Christina Cavanaro; Christine Lester; Christopher Murphy; Devon MacKinnon; Justin Eckilson; Kerrin O'Connor; Leanne D'Entremont; Matthew Pendergast; Matthew Robbins; Mia Russo; Michael Ford; Morgan Mott; Nicole Ward; Sara Duane; Sarah Haigh; Shane Smith; Shaun O'Halloran; Veronica Amaya; Ian Snyder; Martha Lombard
2014 (202 Participants) – led by: Adrienne Hawley; Alexandra Lagoutis; Amy Sennott; Ann Lehto; Annah Kimball; Ashley Giddinge; Caroline Dlugos; Colin Kiley; David Oslin; Elizabeth Duffy; Emma O'Neil; Haley Mount; Heather Kealos; Jaclyn Parolin; James Leonard; James Murphy; Jessica Wyrsch; Justin Eckilson; Kellie Hennessy; Kerrin O'Connor; Margaret O'Leary; Mia Russo; Michael Ford; Molly White; Sean Casey; Shane Matthews; Shaun O'Halloran; Vivian Fitzgerald
2015 (217 participants) – led by: Amy Sennott; Colin Kiley; David Oslin; Elizabeth Duffy; Haley Mount; Riley Duggan; James Leonard; James Murphy; Jessica Wyrsch; Molly White; Sean Casey; Shane Matthews; Hannah Mason; Jenna Levesque; Rachel Silverman; Marcello Cugno; Ben Plante; Taylor Eells; Patrick Reidy; Erin Connolly; Nicole Civaterese; Katherine Moreshead; Lisa Carey; Maeve Harrington; Molly Frost; Shannon Hess; Brenda Keys; Molli Marshall; Holly Foster; Elaina DeMello; Stephen Sullivan; Mercedes Thayer
2016 (230 participants) – led by: Abdelaziz Alsharawy; Alexandra Ashburne; Amy Clancy; Anthony Ciampi; Ashley Blades; Brenda Keys; Bridget Sica; Channing Hodgkins; Christine Balquist; Colin Kiley; Colleen Sears; Elaina De Mello; Elisha Griffin; Emily Vallari; Gregory Spicer; Hannah O'Halloran; India Barrows; Jake Morley; Jessica Gipson; Joshua Post; Kayla Patten; Kelsey Fair; Madeleine Peters; Margaret Lynch; Marissa Persichini; Mercedes Thayer; Richelle Davis; Rose Mooney; Samantha Cardoso; Vanessa Burton; Joey Smith; and Danielle O’Neill.
2017 (244 participants) – led by: Teresa Samson, Zach Sirowich, Georgie Rooney, Marissa Persichini, Jenna Baker, Meghan Golden, Carroll Bailey, Franki Mullen, Danielle Phinney, Zach Traver, Maggie Walker, Cullen Clougherty, Jasmine Blais, Cassidy Diaz, Brenda Keys, Jeff James, Maggie Harington, Joey Smith, Maggie Lynch, Joe Smith, Kayla Patten, Kelsey LeBlanc, Sara Peppler, Clara King, Christine Balquist, Nicole Francischelli, Katie Gemmell, Griffin Fraser, Katie Duane, Jacqueline Parece, Mike Ryan, and Caroline Trickett
2018 (245 participants) – led by: Kelsey Kurtz; Lauren Case; Meg Golden; Martha Heavy; Caroline Trickett; Ashley Kosikowski; Sam O’Neil; Emily Vallari; Caroline Ireland; Joe Bonin; Georgie Rooney; Maggie O’Connor; Braelyn Croteau; Ashley Robichaud; Nicole Francischelli; Adrianna Manzi; Danielle Phinney; Emma Kincaid; Jenna Baker; Greg Tubman; Cullen Clougherty; Sandra Land; Jonathan Burkhart; Emily Pierce; Cassie DiSaia; Griffin Fraser; Sam Delaney; Alex Mullin; Mary Theresa Whalen; Maddie Vigneault; Joey Smith; Claire Collett; Cassidy Diaz; Anna Boris; Zack Sirowich; and Cori Swanhart
2019 (220 participants) – led by: Cassidy Diaz & Olivia Milieka; Martha Heavey & Molly Benson; Kerrin Norton & Jillian Rigby; Caroline Ireland & Tim Holmes; Lauren Case & Emily Pierce; Sam Delaney & Hailey Droogan; Emma Bartle & Abbie Nolan; Sandra Land & Ally Smith; Greg Tubman & Chelsea Hall; Eli Fish & Cassie DiSaia; Maggie O’Connor & Casey Flanigan; Julia Perry & Emily Prud’homme; Kat Gabert & Liz Moore; Kelsey Kurtz & Elisabeth Pope; Mary Theresa Whalen & Madi Jones; Mallory Schell & Maggie Sheridan; Cori Swanhart & Mike Heffernan; Hannah Miles & Becca Olson; Braelyn Croteau & Gabby Dacunha
2020 (210 participants) – led by: Ray Portu & Catherine Dolan; Kelly Quirk & Chelsea Hall; David Broderick & Becca Olson; Colleen Enestvedt & Madi Jones; Matthew Boulet & Julianne Plourde; Kaitlyn Brine & Christopher Millett; Tim Holmes & Erica Lazarek; Ally Smith & Abigail Edison; Christina Damian & Maggie Sheridan; Jillian Rigby & Kacey Phillips; Erin McCosh & Eli Fish; Olivia Nichols & Michael Botsch; Brittany Power & Jay Judge; Abigail Dickey & Brendan Devlin; Ryan Sherman & Noelle MacDonald; Caitlin Golden & Emma Bartle; Rileigh Armstrong & Amanda Gately
2021 (35 participants) – The global COVID 19 pandemic that shut down the world, caused our leaders to rethink how to live out S&S during the year of virtual events and staying at home. 8 leaders came together to create the Service & Solidarity Experience where students connected virtually to each other and organizations. 35 participants engaged in a 3 day virtual Service & Solidarity Experience focusing on the following topics: Embracing Different Abilities; Refugees & Immigrants; Homelessness Awareness; and California Wildfires led by: Siobhan Salani & Zachary Covelle; Rileigh Armstrong & Julia Doucet; Erica Lazarek & Caroline Butts; Jordan Bergeron & Abigail Campbell
2022 – Participants will embark on January and May B.R.E.A.K. experiences to - Andre House, Phoenix AZ; DOOR, Atlanta GA; International Institute, Manchester, NH; Bethlehem Farm, Talcott, WV; and Re-Member, Pine Ridge, SD. Leaders: Julia Doucet & Brian Deignan; Madison Hediger &; Ellen Duane & Erin White; Soleil Skehan & Jaime Kask; Kiara Phair & Saylor Garcia
History of Organizations we’ve partnered with
- Building affordable housing - Habitat for Humanity, North Carolina
- Community Living - Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Austin, TX
- Hospitality for the homeless - Andre House, Phoenix, AZ
- Inner City Immersion - Catholic Charities, Baltimore, MA
- Cultural Engagement & Sustainability - Community Collaborations International, Puerto Rico
- Refugee resettlement - International Institute, Manchester, NH
- Restoration, resilience, and re-engagement - SBP & New Orleans Missions, New Orleans, LA
- Disaster Relief with Community Collaborations - Panama City, FL
- Simple living and stewardship - Nazareth Farm, Salem, WV
- Social Justice and Sustainability- Bethlehem Farm, WV
- Urban community development- St. Vincent de Paul, Philadelphia, PA
- Urban poverty relief - DOOR, Atlanta, GA
- Embracing different abilities - Benedictine School, Ridgley, MA
- Homelessness awareness through food delivery - God's Love We Deliver, New York, NY
- Inner-city education - St. Benedict's Prep, Newark, NJ
- Rural renewal - Camp Friendship, Aberdeen , MS
- Working together toward self-sufficiency - H.O.M.E., Orland, ME
- Cultural immersion and advocacy - Re-member, Pine Ridge, SD
- Dignity of the Homeless - St. Francis Inn, Philadelphia, PA
- St. Joseph’s Housing Repair - Clintwood, Virginia;
- Habitat for Humanity – Beaumont, Texas; Vineland, NJ; Louisiana, Detroit
- Mustard Seed Community- Montego Bay Jamaica;
- Youth Services Operation Project – New York, NY;;
- Cor Unum- Lawrence, MA;
- Appalachia Service Project – Chavies, Kentucky
- Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos – Tegucigalpa, Honduras
- Christian Foundation for Children and Aging - Los Chiles, Costa Rica;
- Haiti; (be like brit)
- The Steinbruck Center, Washington D.C.;
- Dominican Republic;
- The David School, David, KY;
- Baton Rouge, LA;
- Social Justice in the City (CT); catholic worker house
- Disaster Relief – Panama City, FL;
- South Carolina; Gulf Port, MS; (disaster relief?)
- Detroit, Michigan; (habitat?)
- Staten Island, NY;
- Rural Community Engagement (KY);
- God’s Providence – Providence, RI: Jeanne jugan residence
- Romero’s Urban Challenge (NJ);
- Anne Marie House – Hudson, NH; (https://familypromisesnh.org/)
- Overlook Farm with Heifer Intl. – Rutland, MA;
- St. Joan of Arc School and Operation Nehemiah - New Orleans, Louisiana;
- Impact Missions – Ridgewood, West Virginia;
- The Fuller Center for Housing of Webster, Inc. - Springhill, Louisiana;
- Amizade: Navajo Nation – Tuba City, Arizona;
- The Pilgrimage - Washington, D.C.
- Paulist Center, Boston Rescue Mission, and Fr. Bill’s Place, Pine Street Inn, Community Servings, Greater Boston Food Bank, Boston Living Center, Boston Long Island Shelter, and North Cambridge Catholic High School (a Cristo Rey school) - Boston, Massachusetts
- Glenmary Home Missionaries; Mississippi;
- Hurley Community Center, Hurley Virginia
- Tucson, Arizona;
- Jacksonville, Florida;
- St. Mary of the Woods, Indiana;
- Shreveport, Louisiana;
- Cleveland, Ohio;
- Pritchard, Alabama;
- Frenchville, Pennsylvania;
- Lancaster, Kentucky Dodge City, Georgia;
- El Paso, Texas/Juarez Mexico
- Villa El Salvador, Peru;
- San Cristobal Del Norte, Costa Rica.
- San Jose, Costa Rica.
Kathleen Mulcahy Miskell Memorial Scholarship
Kathleen Mulcahy Miskell, 28, passed away in a tragic accident in 2012. She studied at Saint Anselm College earning a bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2006. While attending Saint Anselm she gave selflessly to the Anselmian B.R.E.A.K. program, working with Habitat for Humanity in Jacksonville, FL, and Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos Orphanage (Our little brothers and sisters) in Honduras. In addition to Irish dancing, she had a beautiful singing voice. Kathleen loved to socialize with her many friends, had a heart of gold, and always had a house full of people. Kathleen will be missed dearly and fondly remembered by her loving family and friends. They have chosen to keep her spirit alive through offering a scholarship to support the experiences of future Anselmians seeking the transformative experiences like Kathleen had on Service & Solidarity trips.
Current students participating in Anselmian B.R.E.A.K. trips are encouraged to apply through the Kathleen Mulcahy Miskell Memorial Scholarship Application (PDF/294KB).