The University of Central Arkansas/Hendrix College Catholic Campus Ministry set out for Mission Belize May 11. Accompanying 17 students were Deacon Richard Papini, campus minister, and Father James Melnick, pastor of St. Augustine Church in Dardanelle and St. Andrew Church in Danville.
It was the fourth time CCM has visited Belize, and leaders hope to continue to make annual trips there.
The missionaries spent one week in Bullet Tree Falls, Cayo, Belize, at Immaculate Conception School. They taught kindergarteners to eighth-graders Scripture, focusing on Catholic doctrines and apologetics. For a construction project, they replaced windows in one of the school buildings and painted the exterior. New support beams were also installed to replace existing ones that were failing.
The missionaries spent time with the students forming lasting relationships and sharing experiences. The missionaries were given a unique opportunity to accompany the students on a field trip to Caracol Mayan Ruins, the largest ruin site in Belize that dates back to 1200 BC.
This experience provided an adventure for the missionaries as well as a spiritual retreat. They followed a daily prayer schedule of morning office, daily Mass, silent breakfast with Scripture reading and evening office with reflection. Father Melnick was also available for confession and counseling.
Holly Hambuchen, who will be a junior at UCA from Conway, created a short video to summarize the trip.
