 "There can be no true solidarity without contact"
- Father Peter Hans Kohvenbach, former Superior General of the Jesuits
Miguel Pro has several activities designed to enrich students' character and personal development, but one in particular stand out in the eyes of students, parents and the community. Mes de Misión (Mission Month) is a month long service opportunity has become essential to the identity of a Miguel Pro student. When a student has finished 9th grade, he or she is asked to give up a month of their summer vacation to participate in a construction project (e.g. a rural school, a small medical center etc.) in collaboration with the local residents, the majority of whom are farmers.
Colegio Miguel Pro tries to instill in its students a spirit of solidarity with the poor. The model of solidarity we follow as a school can be best summed up by Father Peter Hans Kohvenbach, former Superior General of the Jesuits, "There can be no true solidarity without contact." Although the great majority of our students come from poor families, Mes de Misión gives them the opportunity to work side by side with the poor and have a greater understanding of the struggles of their daily reality.
This month of service and community living gives students a true sense of the joys and challenges faced in public projects. Through physical labor and nightly reflections, students are empowered by a sense of community, that all people are not created equal, but all have an equal part to play in the fight for social justice. The students are able to see firsthand the poverty they are called by Christ to confront and realize that their hard work, dedication and commitment can help to bring out the best in themselves and in others. Despite our students own apparent poverty or inadequacies within the social framework, they have the power to help others and work for change.
A month away from familiar surroundings and family, coupled with a common goal of service for others, lead to a natural and genuine community building experience. As with any act of service, the students receive as much as they give by learning valuable lessons in teamwork, discipline, and a true definition of community. Students learn to use and share their talents while working as a team. They also grow in their collective spirituality through daily reflections of their encounters.
Mes de Misión is an integral part of the Miguel Pro mission and serves an important formative role. Many students comment that their experiences during Mes de Misión have been crucial in forming camaraderie amongst their fellow classmates and during this time the identity of the class is cemented. Without a doubt it is one of the most formative experiences during a student's years at Miguel Pro. Mes de Misión makes the Miguel Pro education unique and thus attendance is a prerequisite to graduate from the school.
Miguel Pro makes the commitment to students and their families to provide for food and healthcare during the month, while families are asked to contribute by helping with transportation. Besides the families contributions to transportation, Mes de Misión is completely funded by outside donations. Expenses for food and medicine are the most important. Some students receive more consistent meals and medical care on Mes de Misión than in their homes due to economic constraints within their families. If you would like to support for next year's Mes de Misión, please click here. Click on the links below to see pictures from various years. Pictures from Mes de Mision 2008 |
Mes de Misión - Mission Month |