Urban Immersion: Creighton Students come to St. Jane House

Creighton students arriving

This past week at St. Jane House, the Vis Sister’s lay retreat space,  included another opportunity for young people to come and experience life in the inner city — witnessing first hand what calls the Visitation Sisters to be a prayerful presence in North Minneapolis.  Eight students from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska,  came for a second annual “immersion” week in this dynamic part of our Twin Cities community.  The experience, organized and facilitated in part by Ascension Catholic Church‘s pastoral Associate, Anne Atea, provided many service and learning opportunities for these eight co-eds. As students coming through Creighton’s Center for Service and Justice, their Spring Break time was spent honoring their goals, focusing especially on cross-cultural learning. Included in the week-long itinerary were opportunities to:

• learn more about homelessness, spending a day at St. Stephen’s Shelter;
• glimpse monastic life in this rich and culturally diverse setting, attending mass with the Visitation sisters;
• hear Mary Johnson tell her  story about forgiving the murderer of her only son and her “From Death to Life” ministry;
• pray with Muslim brothers and sisters at Masjid An-Nur mosque, and participate in an interfaith dialogue;
• break bread with other young adult neighbors who came through Urban Homeworks and created their own Christian community living and prayer space; and
• volunteer to serve a Lenten Supper at Ascension church.

What follows are images of these beautiful young people at St. Jane House.

Who will be next to “come and see,” learn and serve? Could it be you?

Welcome to St. Jane House!

Students have much to discuss during this week long experience.

Abundance and beauty in their midst

Hearing Mary Johnson's story of forgiveness

Breaking bread with Mary Johnson and other Northside neighbors

Students learn more about hunger, what it means to feed and be fed

Breaking bread with Northside neighbor and Peace Foundation volunteer, Kenny Scales

Relaxing at St. Jane House

Creighton co-eds with Anne Attea, about to say, "Goodbye"....

but not without first leaving a "Thank you" card for Vis Companion and SJH Host, Brian Mogren

Who will be next to sign this Visitor's book? Are you being called to "Come and See"?

In peace, prayers,
Melissa Borgmann-Kiemde
Visitation Companion