Immersion Experience

Students experience the service of faith and promotion of justice through the pillars: spirituality, education, service, community and social justice. Through Immersion, students enter into communities for faith formation and educational preparation, experience the realities of others' poverty, and return to Walsh Jesuit with excitement and passion in continuing relationships with those on the margins of society.  

The Immersion experience challenges one to develop ways to share their stories while wrestling with questions about privilege, race and social justice. Each summer, 90+ Walsh Jesuit Community members live and work with people on the margins of society.  Our students and employees devote their time in serving others all around the world.

Locations vary yearly, but some examples are:

Applications will be available near mid-October.

Once selected, students must participate in formation sessions throughout the remainder of the school year. These meetings allow groups to get to know their companions, learn about their trip location and reflect and pray about specific social justice issues pertinent to their trip.

Dates: Saturday, July 4th to Friday, July 10th  

Kino Border Initiative is a bi-national organization that works in the field of migration. The mission of KBI is to advocate for the dignity of the human person. This is affirmed through direct assistance and accompaniment with migrants, social and pastoral education with communities on both sides of the border, and participation in networks that engage in research and advocacy to transform immigration policies.  

Dates: Monday, June 8th to Saturday, June 13th  

Located in Cincinnati, partnering with the Society of St. Vincent DePaul. Students will explore key issues of poverty, gentrification, food access, and more. Working in partnership with SVDP, the hope is to educate and challenge participants to connect the lived realties of neighbors to issues of social justice, build relationships and to grow a commitment to long-term solutions supporting our neighbors in need. This immersion is rooted in experiences of prayer, service, and education. 

Dates: Tuesday, June 2nd to Tuesday, June 9th 

El Salvador Encounter is a program of Christians for Peace in El Salvador (CRISPAZ), a faith-based delegation experience where participants learn from the Salvadoran people about their lives, histories, and hopes for the future. A major focus of the encounter is to reflect on the meaning of working for justice rather than working for charity, understanding one’s role as a global citizen and humanizing the different issues that are present in our societies.  

Dates: Sunday, July 5th to Friday July 10th  

Kentucky is one of the top resettlement states in the US for refugees. We will work in partnership with Catholic Charities of Louisville (CCL) to immerse ourselves in the work and lives of refugees and those that work to help them. The goal of CCL is to help refugees overcome obstacles to achieve self-sufficiency. We will also be helping and learning about ecology, homelessness, workers’ rights, and intersectionality.