Service Immersion Trips
What service trips?
University Ministry offers multiple service trips throughout the academic year:
- Alternative Winter Break (AWB) in early January,
- Alternative Spring Break (ASB) in mid-March, and the
- International Service Experience (ISE) in late April/early May.
Why service trips?
All of these trips provide students an opportunity to see the world in a different light, while offering service to those less fortunate. Participation gives students and colleagues a chance to live the charisms of the Sisters of Mercy and the Society of Jesus. It's a chance for direct service, combined with reflection on how our perspectives and hearts are touched by others. In this, they live out the Jesuit goal of education of being "men and women for others" and the Mercy tradition of "compassionate service to those in need."
Breakers Making Waves
"Spring break is a time of service for some UDM students"
ASB article in The Michigan Catholic!
In March 2009, students and Colleague Service Partners traveled to El Paso TX, Biloxi/Waveland MS, Sacramento CA, Mt. Pleasant SC and New Orleans LA. Students had the opportunity to learn new skills, but more importantly they realized that all people need love and care, no matter where they live.
View 2009 ASB Overview Video (.wmv)
More information:
Applications for our 2012-2013 service trips are available in the University Ministry office and online. Important dates for our 2012-2013 service trips may be found here soon.
AWB - Alternative Winter Break
2013 location: New Orleans This Winter, UDM students will travel to New Orleans, LA for disaster relief. During this trip students will be able to help and accompany those who have been affected by natural disasters. In August 2005 and again seven years later, New Orleans and southern Louisiana were ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Isaac.New Orleans and the surrounding area, particularly Plaque mines Parish to the southeast, experienced harsh weather, flooding and high wind damage severely impacting the community. Click here to download an AWB application.
For pictures from AWB, please visit our
University Ministry Facebook page.
ASB - Alternative Spring Break
In March of 2013, students will experience an Alternative Spring Break in one of the following six locations:
- Tuscaloosa, AL
- Detroit, MI
- Sacramento, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Salem, WV
- Nogales, AZ
Click here to download an ASB application.
Each site will focus on one issue of social justice: Disaster Relief, Hunger and Homelessness, Immigration, Interreligious Dialogue, Urban Poverty, and Environmental Sustainability.
| For pictures from ASB, please visit our University Ministry Facebook page. |
 For ASB blog entries courtesy of our 2011 Breakers, please click here. |