Central Catholic Immersion Trips

Concept: 

Central Catholic is partnering with Move A Mountain Missions (www.moveamountain.org) to provide an opportunity to spend a week serving at Mustard Seed Communities in Kingston, Jamaica.  Mustard Seed is a home for abandoned children with disabilities although they also operate homes for children born with HIV/AIDS, Pregnant Teens in Crisis, and adults with disabilities.  The weeklong experience focuses on encountering the love of Christ through service to the most vulnerable.  Each day we will interact with the wheelchair

Note: As this experience is offered through Move A Mountain Missions there bound residents and assist the caregivers with feeding them. There will be work projects which may include painting, pouring concrete, or minor construction projects.  Daily Mass, small group prayer/discussion, and Eucharistic Adoration are a central part of this experience.  will be students from other schools including Oakland Catholic who will also be participating in this trip.   

Dates: June 6th, 2020 - June 13th, 2020  

Transportation: Students will meet at Pittsburgh International Airport the morning of June 6th.  In Jamaica, transportation is arranged entirely by Mustard Seed Communities.  A Mustard Seed bus will pick us up at the airport and their team will accompany us as we travel to the various Mustard Seed homes in the Kingston area.  Detailed information about the flights and our schedule in Jamaica will be provided as we draw closer to the trip.   

Accommodations: Students will be staying in the volunteer quarters at one of Mustard Seed’s homes, Sophie’s Place.  Sophie’s Place is in Gordon Town just outside of Kingston, nestled in the Blue Mountains.  The volunteer quarters have two larger dorm rooms with bunk beds one for males and the other for females, 2 bathrooms with several showers, separate rooms for adult leaders, a room for shared meals, and a basic kitchen.   Linens and pillows will be provided.  

Cost: The cost for the trip is $1750.00. This price covers the cost of flights, all meals, travel in Jamaica, lodging, program fees, and a t-shirt. The mission trip program is Mustard Seed’s primary way of raising funds to sustain the work they do for the most vulnerable.  The cost of the trip should not be a reason for a student not to apply.  On your application sheet please check the appropriate box concerning financing this immersion experience. Fundraising is also available through Move A Mountain Missions.  Please see Mr. Goldcamp, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Sczweck, or Mr. Rende before you turn in your application if you have concerns regarding cost.  

Things to Consider: While all are eligible to apply for this trip, only students who exhibit strong responsibility and maturity will be selected.  Students will need to obtain a passport, a notarized consent for minor travel, as well as participate in mandatory meetings.  

The Application Process: All interested students should complete the application. There are a limited number of spots available.  Once accepted students will have to fill out a permission form and submit a $50 registration fee will be required to reserve your spot.  The total cost of the trip is due on March 6th, 2020.

The Pittsburgh Project Immersion weekend offers an opportunity for students to gain greater insight into the realities and concerns of Pittsburgh homeowners who are socio-economically disadvantaged. The weekend includes experiences of direct service in home repair, discussions about poverty, education, and homelessness, reflection, and activities. We will be working with schools and groups from all around the region.

Applications are due October 14 

Dates and Transportation:

Students, accompanied by faculty members will leave after school on Friday November 15, 2019 at 4:30pm and will take schools vans to the Northside of Pittsburgh. Once there, the group will use the school vans to drive throughout the city of Pittsburgh for the remainder of the weekend. The group will return to Central Catholic around 4pm on Sunday November 17, 2019.

Accomodations: 

Students will be staying in simple living quarters at The Pittsburgh Project. The space is an old converted Catholic Church and school. There will be a communal bathroom and simple sleeping arrangements.  Students will be required to bring their own sleeping bag.

Cost: 

The cost for the trip is $150.00. This price covers all meals, travel, lodging and program fees, and a t-shirt. The cost of the trip should not be a reason for a student not to apply.  On your application sheet please check the appropriate box concerning financing this immersion experience. Please see Mr. Goldcamp, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Sczweck, or Mr. Rende before you turn in your application if you have concerns regarding cost.

Things to Consider: 

While all are eligible to apply for this trip, only students who exhibit strong responsibility and maturity will be selected. Students who participate in a sports/extra-curriculars will need to check with their coach/moderator about the dates of the trip before applying.

The Application Process:

All interested students should complete the essay/application below. Depending on the number of applications, some students will be invited to interview before the final group is chosen.  Payment of $150.00 will be due by Friday, November 1st. Applications are due October 14

Concept:  Students will experience a part of the country that is both scenic and unique while living on a Native American reservation.  This immersion trip is an established program with a strict timeline including prayer services, reflective/processing time, service in a middle school, presentations on Native American life, and some recreational time built in.  Students will also visit museums and the Glacier National Park for a snow-shoeing trip.

Dates and Transportation:  Students accompanied by two faculty members will travel by airplane from Pittsburgh to Great Falls, Montana leaving after on Saturday, March 28th, 2020.  We will return, flying out of Great Falls Montana to Pittsburgh on Saturday, April 4th, 2020.  This trip takes place the first full week of fourth quarter. Students will be missing one week of classes and are responsible for talking to their teachers about work.  

Accommodations:  Students will stay on the Blackfeet Reservation in a facility near school.  The modest living quarters will have several student bunk rooms, 2 chaperone rooms, showers, a kitchen, and a meeting space.  Each night students will prepare meals, eat, and clean up together.

Cost:  The cost for the trip is approximately $900.00 per student. This price includes all travel, food, and program fees. Students will need to bring limited spending money for any expenses or meals while traveling and for any souvenirs that they would like to purchase. The cost of the trip should not exclude a student from applying. Financial aid is available for all trips. Please see Mr. Goldcamp, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Sczweck, or Mr. Rende before you turn in your application if you have concerns regarding cost.

Things to Consider:  While all students are eligible to apply for this trip, preference will be given to upperclassmen and only students who exhibit strong responsibility and maturity will be selected.  Students will miss a full week of classes and must have the academic strength to be able to keep up with the work they miss during the week.  If a student cannot afford to miss class because of poor grades or attendance, they will not be considered for this experience.  Be sure to check in with coaches or moderators for any extra-curriculars with which you are involved.  There is limited space available for this immersion trip.

The Application Process: All interested students should complete the application. Depending on the number of applications, some students will be invited to interview during the following week before the final group is chosen.  An initial, non-refundable, deposit of $300.00 will be due Friday, January 10th, 2020 right before midterms so that plane tickets can be booked.  The balance of the trip will be due Friday, February 14th, 2020.

Concept: The Appalachia Mission Trip is a week-long mission trip to Webster Springs, WV.  The trip offers an opportunity for students to gain greater insight into the realities and concerns of our neighbors in West Virginia who are socio-economically disadvantaged. The week includes experiences of direct service in home repair, masses at the work sites, morning and evening prayer, and small and large group activities. We will be working with Oakland Catholic High School during the week.

Dates and Transportation: Students, accompanied by faculty members will leave the Oakland Catholic parking lot school on Sunday June 21, 2020 around noon and will be returning to Oakland Catholic on Friday June 26, 2020 around 1pm.  We will be taking school vans and other chaperone vehicles to Webster Springs.  Once there, the groups will use the school vans and other vehicles to drive throughout Webster Springs and the surrounding counties for the remainder of the week. 

Accommodations: Students will be staying in simple living quarters at Webster Springs Mission Center.  The space is an old converted church to living quarters. There will be a communal bathroom and bunks for sleeping arrangements.  Students will be required to bring their own sleeping bag.

Cost: The cost for the trip is $450.00. This price covers all meals, travel, lodging and program fees, and a t-shirt. The cost of the trip should not be a reason for a student not to apply.  On your application sheet please check the appropriate box concerning financing this immersion experience. Please see Mr. Goldcamp, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Sczweck, or Mr. Rende before you turn in your application if you have concerns regarding cost. 

Things to Consider: While all are eligible to apply for this trip, only students who exhibit strong responsibility and maturity will be selected. Students who participate in a sports/extra-curriculars will need to check with their coach/moderator about the dates of the trip before applying.

The Application Process: All interested students should complete the application. Depending on the number of applications, some students will be invited to interview during the following week before the final group is chosen.  An initial, non-refundable, deposit of $200.00 will be due Friday, January 31st, 2020 after midterms to reserve a spot on the trip.  The balance of the trip will be due Friday, March 6th, 2020.