By Grace Regan
Executive Director and Provincial Assistant for Advancement
New England Province of Jesuits
Editor’s note: Grace Regan traveled with the Boston College group to Belize in January. She shared with us wonderful photos of the trip, and those from people on her team. The photos with this blog post were taken by Ben, who was one of the Boston College students on the trip. Grace counted among her travel companions her co-mentor Kara Connally, student leaders Chris Mario and Christiana Weller and 10 Boston College students, all participants in the college’s Arrupe program, an International immersion program.
As Grace recounts in her remarks below, the team was building a home for Miss Alice, but she was hospitalized during their trip and passed away after the group returned to Boston. Miss Alice had hoped to have the home for herself and for children that were in her care. Often, when we build a home, it helps several generations of people who need adequate shelter. That was certainly the case here. This shelter will be a legacy for Miss Alice and will be a lasting tribute of her love for the next generation. We only wish she could have lived in it herself. Rest in peace, Miss Alice.
The Boston College Arrupe Students and Leaders returned from Belize on Monday after an incredibly powerful week.
BC worked with the Building for Change Program and the team at Hand in Hand to build the 173rd house, which was for Miss Alice and her family. Miss Alice was with us for two days and sadly ended up in the Belize Hospital where she remained in the Intensive Care Unit. Our group arrived on site on Wednesday to hear the news from her son Leslie. The group was devastated but made a decision to power on and make Miss Alice’s dream of having a home for her family a reality.
Leslie and his son Ezekiel were a part of our experience as much as Miss Alice and it was beautiful to see the sum of all parts come together with the BC team, Hand in Hand, the past recipients and Miss Alice’s family; her legacy will live on through Leslie, Ezekiel and the work of Hand in Hand.
One of the most amazing moments of the week was when James took our BC team to the hospital to pray over Miss Alice. It was a very emotional moment but one that will remain in our hearts as we recall our experience in Belize. Miss Alice went home to God this past Tuesday and the students will honor her by sending Leslie a card and a bible in her memory.
There were so many grace moments that occurred during our experiences. One of the student leaders Chris Mario and I had been a part of the Building for Change program in Belize and built for other recipients and we were blessed to visit both of our families. The power in those visits was really beyond me until I witnessed Chris hugging his family and the tears of joy that dripped from them and from every member of our group. Those visits really made the significance of the Building for Change program come alive for the students.
We were also blessed to have Fr. Brian Christopher, SJ bless the house. His presence and the presence of the Hand in Hand Team (James Muschamp, HHM immersion trip coordinator, Mr. P, Christin, Alfonzo and Beto) and the past recipients helped us to celebrate the grace of Miss Alice, the house and the amazing work being done in Belize. The students sang a song, read a poem and presented the family with some supplies and clothing and then presented Leslie with a hand carved Y Cross from Mr. Lizama’s wood shop. James’ mother made a lovely cake and we celebrated Miss Alice and the blessing together as a community.
We are grateful to Hand in Hand for the gift they are for the people of Belize. We also had the opportunity to visit the Outreach Center and the students were thrilled to deliver supplies they had collected and spend time with the children. We came home blessed and will continue to pray for the people of Belize and those who support the work of Hand in hand.
