The Bona Venture

Issue date: 2/26/10 Section: News

Image courtesy of Talbot Eckweiler

A group of 14 St. Bonaventure University seniors plan to get a taste of Northern Ireland culture and Father Mychal F. Judge, O.F.M.'s spirit of service this upcoming midterm break.

The group includes senior Clare Forum students who plan to fulfill their Local Action Project (LAP) requirements by doing volunteer service work during the trip and establishing ties with Irish Franciscan friars through the university's Father Mychal Judge Center.

Larry Sorokes, associate vice president for Franciscan Mission and director of the Father Mychal Judge Center, has spent more than one and a half years working on creating relationships between St. Bonaventure University and Franciscan and higher education leaders in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

This is the first year Clare Forum students will travel to Northern Ireland for midterm break.

The group will begin its trip in Northern Ireland and plans to visit several small communities within the region such as Ballycastle, Sorokes said.

Ballycastle is the home to Corrymeela Community, a Christian retreat center aimed at building peace and reconciling social, religious and political divisions in Northern Ireland.

Sorokes said he believes this experience with the Corrymeela Community will help the students learn methods of reconciliation by meeting with military members, former criminals and refugees, and families affected by the Northern Ireland conflict.

"The Troubles" as the conflict is commonly referred to, pitted the unionists (mostly Protestants), who pledg allegiance to the United Kingdom, against the nationalists (mostly Catholics), who support a reunification of Ireland, during the late 1960s through late 1990s. 3,526 people died as a result of the conflict according to cain.ulst.ac.uk.

"I'm really looking forward to the students' experience … you can never imagine that the people you meet could have experienced something so brutal," Sorokes said.

The students will perform their required LAP hours by traveling to Rathlin Island, off the coast of Northern Ireland, and cleaning up the beach, which has become a dumping ground over time, Sorokes said.

Finally, the group will travel to Belfast and Dublin, where they will visit several universities, such as Queens University, St. Mary's University College and Trinity College. The students will also meet with community peace activists in Belfast and visit a Franciscan friary in Dublin, Sorokes said.

Sorokes said he believes the students have a good combination of travel experience, which will help make the trip go smoothly.

"We have a good mix of students going on the trip," Sorokes said. "Some have gone abroad, while one student has never flown before."

Senior accounting and finance major Kyle Armstrong said he chose to go on the trip as a chance to experience Irish culture for an affordable price of $500.

"I am looking forward to seeing the many sights and attractions Ireland has to offer, as well as learning more about the conflicts between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland," Armstrong said.

Senior marketing major Elizabeth Erdle said she took advantage of the trip because of her love for traveling abroad. She said it would be a more interesting and satisfying way to fulfill LAP hours.

"I really love traveling so this gives me an opportunity to travel and do community service all in one," Erdle said. "I will be more interested and excited about doing this."

Sorokes said he plans to make this trip an annual option for Clare Forum students.

"It's about making relationships, while still making it accessible and affordable for students."

e-mail: klinglls@sbu.edu

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools