Belize Mission Trip 2025 News

Day one began with a Mass held at 06:30 in Fr. Dave’s hotel room. Which was an experience that I will never forget. There were 18 of us that all piled into that room, each with a desire and hunger for the lord that unified us. We have all come from very different lives. Each with our own strength and weakness. Each of us with our own story and personality. A dynamic that only the Lord could have formed. Following Mass we had breakfast together and then headed off to the airport. Once we arrived at our gate we sat together and prayed morning prayer. On this trip we were asked to participate in a social media fast. Which for some was a worry; however, for me it was an aspect of the trip I greatly looked forward to. This fast allows us to disconnect and full remove ourselves from luxuries and comforts of our everyday life. It allows me to be 100% focused on where and what God wants me to do. Without discomfort and pain there is little room for growth. For the plane ride we all had a plan of who we were going to sit by and get to know but like always God has a better plan. We all were mixed up with random people (not on our mission). A fun fact about me is that I am a yapper and I absolutely love talking to people. So the second I sat down I started talking to two older ladies I had the privilege to sit with. We spent the whole flight talking about our faith and walk with the Lord (in addition to basic information about ourselves). The plane ride was unlike any other time I have flown. The whole plane was vibrant with life. You could feel the love and attentiveness of everyone on the plane. After landing in Belize we all joined back together and began our adventure. We had a long car ride and were able to pray the rosary together and get to know each other even better. All I have to say is Fr. Dave’s driving is fun. Also not having AC in the car really kick-started the trip haha. On a serious note, what a blessing each and every single person is. I can truly say I love everyone God had blessed me with meeting on this trip. I am in awe of the hunger everyone has and it has really humbled my heart and made me realize how much I really do not know and how I will never be enough. No one will ever be enough but that just shows the level of love God has for us. Even knowing that and all our faults he chooses to love each and every one of us personally. My smile never faded and my cup was always full. Then later in the night we were able to participate in adoration and Holy hour. To set the scene: We were sitting in the commons area (covered in sweat) the altar in front with two large doors open behind. There was a beautiful scene in the back with the trees and the Mountains. As it got later the sun set behind the Most Holy Sacrament. It was absolutely stunning and humbling. Following holy hour we were welcomed into a local’s home. Their family completely rearranged their home to fit 20 strangers. Not only that, but they prepared a large meal for us. There was so much love and thought put into it. They also prepared this beautiful dessert that clearly took so much time and money. As I was sitting there I was truly humbled and realized we are in an area that so many people would label poor and lacking, but truly I am poor. Spiritually. These people welcomed us into their home without second thought and loved us so greatly. Something I am not sure myself nor my family would do with ease. There is no amount of money or fancy dinner that could compare to the one I had that night. It is easily in my top two best nights of my life. As a sat there I also meditated upon the fact that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. And if we all focus on that love He shared and blesses with we all have common ground and can be joined together. And not just together but truly genuinely love each and every single person. I also had the blessing to have the 3 year old daughter attached to my hip. Ivy came and sat on my lap most of dinner. She was so sweet and caring. All she had was love and interest in us. This trip was supposed to be to help the people of Belize but really God had placed me here to help me. I can truly say that my life has and continues to change and never will be the same. Glory to God in the highest.

The morning began in front of the Blessed Sacrament because in order to prepare for the day ahead we must put on the armor of God. Fortified in prayer we headed to Mass at the local high school before going to teach at the grade school. Later this day we would begin our construction projects helping to restore the homes of two different families. Everywhere we went we all knew the simple question “why are they here?” would arise in their hearts. This is a question that is not only on their hearts but in the hearts of all the missionaries. Lord, why did you bring us here? The answer is a simple one. To serve. To love. To give. We left the comfort of our country and the comfort of our homes in order to love. We don’t have air conditioning and we can’t drink the tap water, yet the missionaries here would have it no other way. You don’t hear groans nor complaints, but instead we raise our voices morning and night to praise the Lord. Did Christ not give up the comfort of heaven to take upon the form of a slave in the name of love? Did he not bear the cross, suffer, and die with love as his sole motive? He had everything… and yet chose to suffer. What could we give in return but to do the same for Him and His people? As we bear our own crosses, we love, we serve, and we give. Not that we may be glorified but that He be glorified in us. We ask you to pray alongside us so that the Lord may continue to use us as humble instruments, revealing His face to the Belizean people.

Come Holy Spirit, allow me to be present to your presence.
Day three was a day of many beautiful moments. In the morning we visited Holy Cross, a primary school that shares the name of my old grade school! When we got there the kids ran up to us with huge smiles, full of contagious joy. I have never felt so loved - now I understand why Christ calls us to be like children! Later in the day, we had dinner with the year-long missionaries at a restaurant called Benny’s. I sat down unknowingly at the kids table - I thought to myself “oh no this could be interesting”. The kids table turned out to be epic - we were laughing and playing games the whole time, I felt like a child again! To end the day, all the missionaries went together to the chapel at John Paul the Great College. At the chapel we chanted night prayer, and the acoustics were quite literally heavenly. Overall, my third day in Belize was one of childlike joy - Lord, allow us all to depend entirely on you.
God Bless, go Cats, and go make disciples of all nations.

Day 4 was filled with group prayer, missionary meals, the beating sun, classroom activities, hard work at the construction site, and lots of laughter. If there is one phrase to summarize this day it would be “wonder and awe”…. We are living in this beautiful world that was gifted by our Creator, yet He chose us individually to remain in His love as we walk on the journey. “It is not you who chose me, but I who chose you.” In the uncomfortable or comfortable places, He waits for us there, calling us by name to partake in His living sacrifice. Within just a few days, it has been evident how the Lord designed each of us to be in relationship with Him. In the friendships and new encounters this week, brothers and sisters in Christ are united, not only in the stretching service projects, but in the sharing of the heavenly banquet. Through frustrations and trials, laughter and belly aches, all in this unknown place… God the Father invites us back to His altar, as the Body of His Church. His simple invitation is to open our hearts to the goodness, mercy, and love that is so generously outpoured. As missionaries in this world, we are set apart and chosen out of love and to return love: “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 5:19). In the awakenings of our hearts, the mission not only in Belize but in the rest of the world is to give back what Jesus so freely gave us - his life.

Toward the end of the night, the missionary team spent time at John Paul the Great College, hosting a youth night with games, snacks, and swing dancing. The group was able to catch the sunset on the roof top of the school, captivated by the views of Belize. The gentle silence brought about a spirit of gratitude for the natural beauty around. An answered prayer to the questioning heart “Jesus, show me your face…” Through creation and beauty, through the faces of every person we have encountered, the Lord embraces us with His overflow of desire. He is always there on this pilgrimage toward our heavenly home, reaching out his hand in the radiating colors of the sunset and the warmth of a stranger’s embrace. He calls us out of our comfortable, hiding places and says “Peace. Be still.” There is a spirit of peace in taking that gentle leap of faith with the Lord… His plans are continually unraveling. No matter where the Lord leads us in this life, His love is rooted in our hearts at every moment. God’s faithfulness endures.

The 5th day began like the previous days and how our days ought to begin, with morning prayer, holy hour, and holy mass. The difference about this morning’s holy mass was that it was done in Latin. We were each given a booklet with the responses so that we could all more fully participate and enter into worship. How wonderful and beautiful it was to celebrate holy mass in the same direction and the same tongue that many saints have celebrated holy mass in! In the homily, Fr. Dave spoke about inviting Jesus to walk and talk with us more often, especially when we feel ignored or alone. This is something many of us, missionaries, carried into our last day of construction. We were all determined to finish what we started a few days ago and leave the houses better than before. At my construction site, we finished digging a trench around the house, poured cement to reinforce the posts, and completed a small house/ shed, where they will sell food. In the cement, we put a miraculous medal and said a prayer for all those who will enter the house. Some of us went to Mount Carmel high school to personally invite students and many said they would come. The second youth night was a huge success! So many students that I spoke to came, which was great because the night before only five students came. Students enjoyed playing volleyball, basketball, and soccer which was a huge hit. Other kids made bracelets and learned how to swing dance. It was a great way to provide a safe place and community for the youth to share in fellowship and have fun. We ended the night in prayer and thanksgiving.