When thinking of Holy Week, you wouldn't necessarily think of Spring Break, but that was the reality for Elon University this year! Ten amazing students, Fr. Gerry, and I had the privilege of going to Johns Island, South Carolina, to work with the Sea Island Habitat for Humanity, alongside Habitat supervisors and a group from Eastern Connecticut State University. Today, Habitat has helped build or repair more than 600,000 houses and served more than 3 million people around the world.

While working with Habitat, some students were installing sheet rock and vinyl siding, others were making a beautiful wooden deck, digging holes, moving gravel... with everyone coming together to make a difference in the lives of the future homeowners. This was an amazing opportunity for CCM to give back to others in need and truly see what Habitat is all about. We have some students who are excited to go back next year and others are trying to get more involved with Habitat locally! During an evening reflection, first-year student Kevin Coyne expressed the following: "Going out and doing service (like CCM's Alternative Spring Break Trip) is always great and needed, but true service starts within our daily lives on a daily basis." The love and service the students showed to everyone on the trip was so evident and truly reflected the remarkable character of our students here in CCM.

We were also able to celebrate Holy Thursday with an intimate Mass and a Washing of the Feet, and on Good Friday we were blessed to meditate with the Stations of the Cross around the Angel Tree, possibly Johns Islands' most famous attraction.

The experience was a once- in-a-lifetime trip where "service" and "spirituality" came together harmoniously. What a great way to spend the final days of Lent and the beginning of the Sacred Triduum.

For more pictures from the trip, click here!