Ninety miles north of Chiclayo, where Pope Leo XIV served for more than 20 years, a group of students from Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington found themselves unexpectedly responding to tragedy.
While on a mission trip led by Commissioned by Christ, the students helped rebuild the home of a local family that was destroyed by a fire. The fire broke out the night of July 8, leaving the family homeless.
When the students learned about the tragedy the following morning, they were heartbroken about the news but within hours were eager to step up and help.
“They were really excited about it because this gave them a chance to really do exactly the kind of things that they came out here to do — to help people, to be engaged, to sort of be the hands of the Lord helping his people,” said Chris Gunther, a CBC leader on the mission trip.
A CBC supporter’s donation helped fund the construction materials and O’Connell’s campus ministry provided new furniture for the home. Gunther said that when they delivered the housing materials the afternoon of July 9 the area was still smoking with embers on the ground.
“We knew we could build a house in a day, we’ve done it before,” he said. “We knew we could get this accomplished, but we would need to use all of the team.”
With the help of Parroquia Santísimo Sacramento (Blessed Sacrament Parish) in Piura, a parish with an array of charitable efforts, the group of students was able to clean the site and rebuild the modest home within 24 hours.
The experience was humbling and faith-enriching for many of the students, who were struck by the deep faith of Piura residents living in grass huts with few possessions besides crosses and pictures of Mary adorning the walls.
The same sentiment resonated with Gunther, who mentioned how life-changing the mission trip was for all involved to leave Virginia and see those in need up close.
“The level of poverty (in Piura) is completely different. Yet, the level of faith is also entirely different,” he said. “Seeing that really allows you to form your values about what’s most important in life at an age where it can really make an impact.”
Find out more
For more info on Commissioned by Christ, go to cbc-missions.org.
