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The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    CSA members serve Greenwood elementary school

    Members of the Catholic Student Association packed their bags and headed to Greenwood, Mississippi with a mission to help those in need.

    Members of the Catholic Student Association Lauren Lason served in Greenwood, Mississippi with a mission to help those in need.
    Courtesy of Lauren Larson

    Shortly after finals were over for the Spring semester, members of the Catholic Student Association packed their bags and headed to Greenwood, Mississippi with a mission to help those in need.

    The mission trip, a time to serve others,  took place from May 15 to 21 and according to recent graduate Derrick Faucheux, the main goal was to assist in projects at St. Francis Elementary School. 

    “Before the mission trip, I tried to have an open mind since I knew this mission trip would be very different than the ones I had been on in the past,” said senior family and consumer sciences major Jill LeBlanc. “I told myself to be open to new challenges or work even if I was not in love with the idea of doing it. I knew that no matter how big or small my task was that I was there to serve and intended to do that in any way that I could.”

    Some other CSA members were glad to have the chance to bond with their fellow organizational members while growing closer to God. 

    “I’ve been on many mission trips, even before I started CSA,” said junior general studies major Irene Marino. “Anytime I hear about a mission trip, I make every effort to go. I have a passion for helping people and making an impact, and for that reason, I decided to go. It is also a great way to make memories with my CSA family.”

    The mission trip involved working with children from the St. Francis Elementary School as well as some physical labor. Some on the mission trip were able lend a hand in a variety of tasks.

    “I mostly worked with the children at St. Francis school and helped the teachers in their classrooms,” said Marino. “I also jumped out of my comfort zone by getting involved with more physical labor jobs. For example, the basketball court at the school needed some attention. I, along with some other people, helped fill the cracks with cement and smoothed it out. I have never done anything like that before. It took a lot of sweat and bruises, but I know we made a difference because the kids no longer had to worry about tripping over the big cracks and hurting themselves.”

    According to Faucheux, CSA members were able to work together to impact children from St. Francis who had huge smiles on their faces for the entire week in one of the poorest cities in the country. 

    “This trip was important to me because I was able to reconnect with my faith life through giving of myself to others,” said Graduate Student in communication sciences and disorders Emma Lapeyrouse. “I think we all had a common goal of getting together for the good of people other than ourselves.” 

    Though the mission trip has passed, students can still become a part of CSA in the future and current members wish to acknowledge that chances to help less fortunate are closer to home than one may think.

    “Whether you feel called to this mission trip, a different mission or just to be a light in your own town, don’t be afraid to do so,” said senior kinesiology major Lauren Larson. “Though we don’t see it, God uses us in great and mysterious ways. It is amazing to think about the number of lives we can positively impact.”

    Some of those who went on the mission trip graduated in May and others appreciated that they could travel to Mississippi one last time before their graduation.

    “This was my third time participating in the Greenwood mission trip with CSA,” said Larson. “I will be graduating before the next annual mission trip. This was my last time being able to go on this mission trip. It was bittersweet. Since this was my last mission trip with CSA, I wanted to challenge myself more than I had the previous years.”

    Larson accomplished her goal of challenging herself at St. Francis.

    “Of the two years that I went to Greenwood, Mississippi, I rarely spent time with the students of St. Francis,” said Larson. “This year I spent time with them every day. Initially, I was scared because I did not know how to connect with the children, what they’d think of me or if they liked me. But by the end of the mission trip, I had connected with some of the students. I was only there for about a week and these children treated me like I was their best friend. I played soccer and kickball with them, sang with them, talked with them, ate with them and they still wanted more. They were sad when I had to leave.”

    According to Faucheux, this trip was about growing closer to Christ through service and encourages students as well as future Southeastern students to get involved with CSA.

    “Come to St. Alberts and apply for it,” said Faucheux. “It’s completely free and you don’t have to be Catholic to go. Anyone on our campus is welcome to join us.”

     
    Members of CSA work at St. Francis Elementary School

    Members of CSA work at St. Francis Elementary School. 
    Courtesy of Lauren Larson

     

    Members of CSA work at St. Francis Elementary School.

    Members of CSA work at St. Francis Elementary School.
    Courtesy of Jill Leblanc

     

     

     

     

     

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