Camden Immersion Reflections- June 2004

In the last four days at Camden, I have experienced more than I could have ever imagined. This trip allowed me to see all of the problems affiliated with living a life of poverty, but it also showed me all the love and compassion that the people of Camden have to offer. The love and compassion shown to us meant so much to me because for the first time I expected nothing more. By being surrounded by poverty and despair, even the slightest sign of thanks and gratitude was all I needed. I knew that the reason I was here was to make a difference, not to receive some kind of reward or payment. But, when you did receive that sign of thanks, it meant more that any other type of reward. The only reward I ended up taking home with me was the knowledge that I am lucky to have all the privileges of my everyday life. I will never forget the events that occurred at Camden, and the rest of my life. I will carry them with me forever.

Kevin Sommers ’05

My journey in Camden,

            In life, a journey and an odyssey are constantly in progress. One is constantly searching to satiate the ever hunger mouth that each person possesses. Camden provided me with food for my soul.

            I think that it is very hard to gain a genuine perspective on life. I know that in my life I have constantly been fed with hackneyed sayings like, “A starving child would kill to have the food you waste” and others. However, I never took any of these to heart.

            In Camden, I couldn’t help but to begin the process of  comprehending how much I have been blessed with. It is astounding the amount of things that I have taken for granted. My life, my health, my family, and my faith are just some of these things.

            People here are truly given nothing, at least not of worldly possessions. At New Visions, a place where the homeless are taken in and given food and clothes, people arrive daily whose lives have been destroyed. Despite the hardships of drugs, ailments, and others, these people couldn’t be nicer. They always had time to talk.  It shows that even in the most desolate places, joy can exist.

            I am thankful for this opportunity and I will not quickly forget it. I think that Fr. Betti, Mr. Ahrens, and Mr. Williams have made this the wonderful experience it has been. Life is made up of experiences, and it’s a shame that all cannot be this meaningful.

Jake Steinmetz ’05

My experience in Camden has been a good one. When I found out I was going to Camden, I didn’t think the poverty was going to be that bad. But, after working in Camden for a week, I was surprised at the amount of poverty. One important thing I learned this week was that there is a difference between pictures of poverty and actually experiencing it first hand.

            Some things I did on the trip were pack food at the food bank, pain, deliver food to AIDS patients, and fixed up a house.

            I would like to thank the faculty who came on this immersion trip, Fr. Betti, Mr. Ahrens, and Mr. Williams, and I’m glad I got to know them better. But, I would like to especially thank Mr. Ahrens, because of all the time and energy he put into the trip.

            Overall, I’m very glad I went, because of the chance to help the Camden people and to get to know everyone who went.

Shawn Connors ’05

Boys to Men

This retreat is more than one week away from home with 40 boys from high school. This retreat is much more about going to the city of Camden, NJ and working to make a difference. This retreat is much more than helping others. This retreat is about brotherhood, unity, cooperation, and it is a chance for those 40 boys to become men… Not just men, but men who help the community they are in and care for other and above all, care for God.

            Yes, everyday every person has gone out around the people of Camden and tried to make a difference in somebody’s life. However, what really happened is that the people of Camden made an impact on the retreatants’ lives.

Mike Fitzgerald ’05

My experience at Camden, NJ was amazing. When we first arrived in Camden, everyone, including myself, had jokes and comments about the despairing conditions of the city. Soon, I realized that I would become a part of it all. I was not sure what to expect but I was immediately pushed into the experience. Over the next several days, I would paint rooms, work with the homeless, deliver food to the ill, and work in Camden’s local daycare. Aside from the work, we were very active in reflection sessions and group activities. From my first day of work, I silently vowed to offer this week to my family. During the week, every time I felt tired or saddened, I would offer it up and keep going. From this trip to Camden, my work and silent prayers allowed me to remain optimistic and to trust that God had a plan fro everyone in the world. The trip to Camden helped me recall all of my blessings and how lucky I am. I am glad I got this opportunity to serve because it forced me to question my faith and trust God. I learned to trust God’s intentions for the people of Camden, and also my family at home. This experience has given me hope in miracles…

Ed Gerrity ’05

Camden, NJ was one of the best experiences I have ever had, despite my only two jobs were to be paint several rooms at various non-profit organizations and to be a “babysitter” at the local daycare center. No matter how big or small the job was, I knew that it would make some sort difference in one person’s life.

Furthermore, my experience in Camden allowed me to open up in a small group setting. Being the only sophomore on a junior immersion trip was hard, and trying to open up was harder. Even though I had some small group experience with all juniors by being the only sophomore on Emmaus 97, Camden was a bit different. I was able to open up ten times more on Camden. Here I was, telling my group something that has been on my mind for several years. I only knew these guys for 4 days and they are all a year older than me. I don’t know how to explain it well, but I was able to trust this group of young men more than my best friend. I really think that God was acting through my small group to help me with this problem. It just shows the trust level that can be achieved when you are pushed a different environment, or out of your “comfort zone.”

I just want to say thanks to Fr. Betti, Mr. Williams, and above all, Mr. Ahrens. I don’t think I would have ever gone on this trip if it weren’t for Mr. Ahrens, and thus this immersion trip would have never been experienced. And thanks to my small group – Fitzgerald, Castillo, O’Keefe, and especially Gerrity for not treating me like the little brother but more like an equal.

Christopher Wrobel ’06

A funny thing about people is you don’t know what you really fear until you’re put face to face with it. Sometimes, you don’t even realize you’re afraid of it until you first experience it. Before my immersion trip to Camden, I had put very little thought into the AIDS virus. Yet, though Camden, my fear had diminished and my emotional barrier was broken. While working different jobs, I volunteered at an area where AIDS patients received food. This was my first experience with a person near death and suffering greatly. Yet, to my surprise, this frail man welcomed me and spoke to me as a friend. To be able to supply food to infected people, gave me such a great sense of pride. I slowly began to fear AIDS patients less and less until I found myself working along side them in a homeless shelter. Finally, my fear had been changed into a sense of joy. This experience helped to show me that you should never fear people for any reason, but you should always show love and compassion and you will then see God in all of them.

Brian St. Marie ’05

I am intensely grateful for being one of the privileged young men who were able to undertake an immense trip. This journey has given me the chance to bond with my peers and learn a great deal through them. When I first thought of Camden, I though of poverty, violence, and drugs. After the trip, I found Camden to be a place full of compassionate, beautiful, and funny people who happen to get “stuck.” I have learned so much in this week under the great leadership of the teachers. I highly suggest that any one who infers on going on this trip to pursue going on it. Don’t just live in the moment, but live for life.

Blessings to all,

Chris Hamm ’05

Camden is the place

Where you face

All the needy

As the greedy

Look into their eyes

Confront all the lies

That have been created

To hide all the hated

Who’ve made their mistakes

But show us what love takes.

By carrying their lives

While potential dies

They live for each other

And teach us what’s a brother

With their stories, their teachers,

And humility in their features

They continue to cope

Just to spread you their hope.

I love them all

I have found my call
~Anonymous

City of the faded eyes

Get uncomfortable and you’ll soon realize

Once you put away your umbrella painted with clouds and blue skies

That it rains in places other than yours

On impoverished many in a land without liberating doors

Join some few that have gone out and found

That some things aren’t always what they seem, but always as they sound

In the badlands where Broadway lies

Under the glance of faded Dr. Eckleburgs eyes.

I too once left my umbrella of blue skies

To find the answers to my many “Why’s?”

But I found only more things that I needed to answer

For when I was younger this was all more than I preferred

I found myself in a new brotherhood

Dedicated to cleaning up someone else’s neighborhood

In the badlands where Broadway lies

Under the glance of faded Dr. Eckleburgs eyes.

Through the smog and village that smoked

That the feeling of the people’s hunger that choked

We saw children with empty bellies of sorrow

And homelessness with no ideas of meals for tomorrow

So we gave without cost, and fought and heeded no wounds

We toiled without rest, and labored without care of the pounds

In the badlands where Broadway lies

Under the glance of faded Dr. Eckleburgs eyes.

We saw this place of the hungry, decrepit, and homeless

So we decided that none should have any of this

Each day I took a hammer to an abandoned wall

And food before some great fall

And to these who treaded beneath red lights

We gave their view brighter sights

In the badlands where Broadway lies

Under the glance of faded Dr. Eckleburgs eyes.

Camden was the name of this forgotten land

This place in need of support of the heart and hand

The battlefields of one of America’s greatest fight

Against poverty, violence, drugs, and blight,

To go there for service is my plead

To answer the painful calls of need

In the badlands where Broadway lies

Under the glance of faded Dr. Eckleburgs eyes.

Paul Castillo ’05

I wondered what it would be like to be a leader, to have kids learning and opening up to me. It was a shock to go through this experience because I was never a serious leader but one that could have fun and joke around. In the last five days here, I have learned how to become a better person in my guiding people. I hope I have helped some kids in their view of the world. During my last four years in Canisius High School, I was never into the religious aspects and I still am not religious, but the joy’s given by helping people is astonishing. I wish that there can be more done to help the less fortunate. I hope that every person who came to Camden took the time to really realize what it is like to have a chance to help themselves grow. I am not the smartest guy in the world, but I always work hard and try my best at whatever comes my way, whether it be in school, on the field, or helping the less fortunate. I look to do my best and achieve the most. I would like to thank my family, friends, and teachers who have supported me in any way through out my life, whether it is in a class or on a retreat. Thank you!

Darcy Connors ’05

My experience at Camden has greatly improved my perception on the world. For the first time in my life, I gained an interesting perspective on the lifestyle of the impoverished. I have learned to not be judgmental of people who have risky lifestyles. My interactions with the poor directly have led me to question my interactions with other people close to me. Also, I have grown closer to my fellow classmates by working together at various work sites. To put it simply, the transformation that occurred at Camden had brought me closer to what I want to do with my life.

Charley Banas ‘05

Camden. What does it mean for me? Besides the new friendships I’ve formed and the old ones I’ve strengthened, I have learned a lot from others on this trip as well as myself. I think I speak for all of us when I say that I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t moved by this experience. Delivering food to AIDS patients, gutting abandoned houses for the betterment of the community, painting a local charity, or just keeping people at the local homeless shelter company, all of it was moving. I really wish that everyone could experience what I did this week sometime in their life. And as much as I respected Mr. Ahrens, Fr. Betti, and Mr. Williams before this, I can’t tell you how much more I respect them now. Every faculty member at Canisius and everywhere else should model themselves after these three men, and even if they become half the person these three men are, they will be far much better off. In closing, if you get the chance to do something like this, take it. The more uncomfortable you are, the more you will get out of this retreat. Seniors of 2005, Good Luck and God Bless!

Jonathon Augustyn ‘05

When I woke up on June 13, 2004, I had no idea what to expect from the Camden Immersion Trip. Personally, I was skeptical about the entire thing. I wasn’t sure who I was going meet or what I was going to encounter. Yet a certain driving force, whether it be divine or instinctive, compelled me to enter the white van and never look back.

Before long, I was on a one way trip to spiritual and societal enlightenment. I enjoyed greeting and speaking with over 300 homeless men from Philadelphia. I couldn’t help but to smile, as I knew that they were going to receive a hearty meal, one that they might not have seen for weeks on end. My emotional barren of ignorance was quickly depleted after I met Sue, the director of Francis House, an organization for people infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. To say the least, she was a woman of tremendous courage, who will inspire my future decisions until the day I die. These descriptions are just a few of the inspirational situations I have encountered this far, the rest are either frozen in time on a photograph or engraved on my heart and mind.

It has been a hectic week altogether. Put it between all the hectic moments I managed to remove myself from the “hussle and bussle” and focus on what really counted, seeing God in people we never thought we would. This is what has made the difference and this is what I will never forget.

Tyler Smith’05

            Miracles happen everyday. These words are used so much in the Church’s teachings that they’ve become cliché. They’d become simply words without meaning for me. This year’s immersion trip to Camden, NY changed all that, however. In my 5 days in America’s poorest city, I witnessed more miracles than ever before; miracles that touched countless lives, including my own.

            When I decided to return to Camden after a terrific experience last year, I was not really expecting to experience anything new. I simply wanted to re-visit an old place and maybe help some people along the way. This expectation was quickly demolished, however, on my first day of work. I went to a place called New Visions, a center that provides shower facilities, shelter, and meals to Camden’s homeless. The woman who ran the center, Ms. Carol, was inspiring beyond my wildest dreams. I was moved by the fact that she devoted herself whole-heartedly to helping Camden’s homeless. She explained to us that drugs were the main cause behind the large homeless population in Camden, and that it was the drugs that cause many of them to resort to prostitution. Ms. Carol’s honesty, compassion, and genuine care for her patients was not only touching, but inspiring, as well. She embodies many of the qualities that I try to live, open-mindness, strength, and love.

            It was at New Visions that I experienced my first miracle. I was helping to serve a spaghetti lunch when the cook, Fred, told me that there was simply no way there would be enough food for everyone. There was simply not enough. By the grace of God, however, there ended up being more than enough, in fact, many of the homeless men we able to come for seconds. Though minor, I felt that this was the work of God.

            Another miracle I experienced was at the St. Joseph Nursery. This event was especially moving for me because it was Graduation day for the pre-school kids. So, I got to see the children that I had worked with last year graduate into Kindergarten this year. Words cannot describe the immense sense of pride I was feeling as each name was called, from Melanie, the girl who inspired me the most last year, to Daniel, the first child who talked to me last year. A huge smile formed on my face when Danasia, Rose, and Mary were called along with Ta-Ta, Melissa, and Anielka. My proudest moment, however, came with the calling of Ephraim. Last year, he was the typical bad kid. He was always talking, never listened, and usually found himself in trouble. To see that Ephraim has persevered and matured and was now graduating made me incredibly proud.

            It was in the relationship between the kids and their parents, however, where I saw the miracle. Despite the terrible conditions of Camden, it was so inspiring to see that the bond between parent and child was unbroken. I watched as the new graduates handed their diplomas to their proud parents and gave them a big hug and a kiss. The pride in the eyes of the parents and the love on the faces of the kids convinced me that the children themselves were a miracle to the world.

            One last miracle I experienced was at the heart of Camden on the last day of work. During this day, I was asked along with 10 other retreatants to help clean an abandoned home in Camden’s worst neighborhood. When we walked in and saw that the house covered with over a foot of rubble, old boards, and fallen plaster, we were shocked. There was so much rubble that we couldn’t even see the floor. Slowly, however, we got to work. We got together and helped one another focusing on one task at a time. Within four hours, the house was mostly finished. The floors were clear and the house was almost livable again. Looking back at all the hard work, I knew that the task we had accomplished had been done by God’s grace. It was a miracle.

            During my week at Camden, I also saw God in the eyes of countless people. I saw God in Sue, the woman who ran the Francis House for people with AIDS and HIV. I saw God in the eyes of Teresa, the Latin American woman whose generosity and sacrifice helped keep the Romero Center running. I saw God in Ms. Franca, the McQuaid teacher who also made the trip. Her generosity and willingness to listen meant more to than she’ll ever know. God was in Mr. Ahrens, Mr. Williams, and Fr. Betti who were simply amazing. Most of all, however, I saw God in my fellow classmates. They were courageous, strong, and outgoing. They never once judged me or anyone else and their openness and honesty was inspiring. It is because of these great people that Camden was a miracle this year.

Theo Ossei-Anto’05

Why did you choose to go to Camden?  This is a question I have heard more than once during the weeks preceding, as well as the week of the trip to Camden.  A big factor that contributed to me getting involved in Camden was the Emmaus Retreat that I had taken during the beginning of junior year.  I had a very good experience on Emmaus.  It was nice to get away, hang out with friends, and strengthen my faith.  When I heard about the applications for Camden, I figured, “Why not?”  I knew that I would have fun, and it would be a good chance to volunteer.  As the trip down progressed, I had the sense that this trip would be fun and become very influential for myself and everyone else.  In our large and small groups we talked about seeing God in others and what we can get from our experiences.  While working at St. Joseph’s Child Development Center, I could truly see God working through the children there.  Their innocence and kindness was astounding. When I first walked in, they wanted to know my name. For me to play with them, even though I was a stranger, was surprising.  The kindness and love they showed me really opened my eyes.  The next day I worked with catholic charities.  There was a family from Cuba that would be arriving that night so our job was to move all of their furniture into their new house.  I could tell that Quam, the man we worked with, was grateful for the few hours of service we provided because it would have taken him the whole day to complete the task alone.  The next job I did was MANA.  We spent roughly an hour delivering food to AIDS patients in the Philadelphia area.  We did our best to circumnavigate the one way streets and deliver the lunches to people we could only assume were anticipating our arrival.  In many instances, there were families that were helping to care for these people that were so very ill, and most of the people were very kind and grateful for what we were doing. 

Dan Grosenbaugh’05

The past week in Camden has been filled with surprises about myself as well as others.  Through the work sites such as working in a nursery school to delivering meals to AIDS patients, I got a sense of fulfillment like no other.  The highlight of my week was working in an abandoned building clearing out debris.  Ten guys went up to the second floor and saw what had been done the day before,  For about two minutes we all stood and most were thinking, “How are we going to get all this done?”  Everybody grabbed a shovel and a trashcan and went to work.  Within four hours the upstairs was completely gutted, and we were all so dirty.  During the entire time, I was thinking of how the task was going, and in my thoughts I compared this house to the rest of the world.  We had to clean up a huge mess left behind by others, and the only way to accomplish our goal was by working together.  That incident is the main thing I will take with me from this awesome experience.  Also, the bonds that were formed on this trip cannot be overlooked.  People I had known little, if at all, became close, and those already close became even closer.  I will remember that third week of June forever.

Greg Vukelic

Class of 2005

            After reflecting on my week and my experiences I have noticed the impact that the Camden retreat had on me.  The daily service projects have brought me new experiences and feelings but the things I see and the people I met there are not the greatest gift I have received from this retreat.  The greatest thing that has happened to me are the new stronger relationships I’ve made.  Canisius alumni always talk about the relationships they have with each other.  Until this trip, their “relationships” were incomprehensible to me, but now I understand and have those relationships.

Tom Jurkowski

Class of 2005

In the last four days at Camden, I have experienced more than I could ever imagine.  This trip allowed me to see all of the problems affiliated with living a life of poverty, but it also showed m all the love and compassion that the people of Camden had to Offer.  The love and compassion show to us meant so much to me because, for the first time, I expected nothing more.

By being surrounded by poverty and despair, even the slightest sigh of thanks and gratitude were all I needed.  I knew that the reason I was here was to make a difference, not to receive some kind of reward or payment, but when you did receive that sigh of thanks, it meant more than any other type of reward.

The only reward I ended up taking home with me was the knowledge that I am lucky to have all the privileges of my everyday life.

I will never forget the events that occurred at Camden and I will carry them with me for the rest of my life.

Kevin Sommers

Class of 2005

God gave me courage and strength in Camden. I tried to work with the poverty stricken, realizing the injustices that the people had to live with. I  saw God at work there, in the people around me and in myself.  The coming together of Canisius and Camden was a miracle of God, both for the city and ourselves.

Robert Wagner

Class of 2005

This year I had the opportunity to work at several places in Camden.  Included were the St. Francis Aids House, the South Jersey Food Bank, the St. Joseph’s child development center, and New Visions Homeless Shelter.

            St. Francis House is a center for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS to hang out, as well as enjoy the support and knowledge of others.  I could tell that the lady who ran it, Sue, cared for each and every one of the people who visited.

            The South Jersey Food Bank is a giant warehouse full of food donations.  The food bank collects donations and then distributes them to various organizations.  This is actually the place where all of the food from the post offices’ food drive was delivered.  Here we helped to clean up a little by mopping, as well as put together food orders for organizations coming to pick up food.

            New Visions is a homeless shelter that provides food, a shower, cloths, and a place for homeless people to stay during the day.  All of the people their helped each other out in any way that they could no matter how little they had to offer.  Some of them talked to our grouped and explained how they got on the wrong track with drugs.  They told experiences that a person would not usually share to help us stay on the right track and to try to keep us from making the same mistake that they did.  Miss Carol was in charge of new visions.  She showed us drug paraphernalia along with some other things to try to make us really realize how bad things could.

The St. Joseph’s child development center helped to show Camden in a different light.  Instead of helping out at a place designed for people in need, we had the opportunity to see one of the better ends of Camden.  I went to help on the day of their graduation.  It was nice to see all of the proud four year olds as well as be able to see how proud all of their parents were of them.

If I had the chance to go back to Camden a third time I definitely would.  Both experiences I had there were great.  Not only was doing the work great, but the people that went were.  I strengthen bonds with people I had already known and formed them with people I hadn’t.  I am glad I had the opportunity to go.

Jim Fricano

Class of 2005