Living the Mission: St. Joes Students Volunteer in Appalachia

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Author: Jessica Clarke, St. Joseph High School

At St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, CT, service is not just a value—it’s a way of life. This summer, nine rising senior peer ministers took that mission beyond the classroom. Peer Ministers are upperclassmen enrolled in a Theology elective that focuses on servant leadership through faith and community outreach. As student leaders within the school, they are tasked not only with deepening their own spirituality, but also serving as an example for their peers -leading school-wide prayer, facilitating community service projects, and participating in service trips. In June 2025, they traveled to Kanawha County, West Virginia to serve alongside the Appalachia Service Project (ASP)—a nationally recognized nonprofit committed to making homes warmer, safer, and drier for families across Central Appalachia. This marks St. Joseph High School’s second consecutive year partnering with ASP on a week-long summer service trip, deepening the school’s commitment to transformative, hands-on outreach. In alignment with the school’s commitment to faith and the shared responsibility to serve others, students embraced both the physical and spiritual challenges of the experience.

Working in two teams, SJ Peer Ministers took on impactful home renovation projects that directly improved the quality of life for families in Charleston, WV. One team served an elderly woman in need of safer, more accessible living conditions. Students replaced the carpeting in her bedroom with durable vinyl flooring and converted her existing bathtub into a walk-in shower to accommodate mobility needs. The second team worked on a home that had long lacked standard plumbing and electricity in the bathroom and bedroom. Picking up where a previous volunteer group left off, St. Joes students completed the bedroom renovation—removing deteriorated insulation and installing more durable, energy-efficient material to improve warmth and dryness in the room, constructing a new ceiling to restore comfort and structure in addition to preparing for recessed lighting. As high school students with minimal renovation experience, they relied on the training provided by ASP staff and the support of their SJ chaperones. With enthusiasm and dedication, both teams committed themselves to the work—developing new skills while gaining a deeper understanding of housing insecurity, privilege, and personal responsibility.

While physical repairs were a central focus, the emotional and spiritual bonds formed throughout the week left an equally lasting impression on both the volunteers and the homeowners. The entire ASP group of about 120 adults and students gathered every morning at 7:00 a.m. for communal devotions guided by this year’s ASP theme: “Be the Light” based on Matthew 5:16. These reflections grounded students in purpose, helping them approach their daily tasks with intention, empathy, and a humble connection to the people they served.

At one worksite, an SJ student spent time each day sitting and talking with the homeowner, listening to stories about her life in West Virginia, her family, and her unshakable faith. Her warmth and gratitude were so genuine that, even though she was the one being served, she would always ask the students if they needed anything before leaving.

At the other worksite, students gathered with their homeowner as she saw functional lights in her bedroom for the first time. Overwhelmed with emotion, she broke down in tears, expressing how deeply touched she was—that the students' compassion and dedication had gone far beyond anything she ever imagined.

Returning to Connecticut after completing their week’s projects-and offering heartfelt thanks to their homeowners for the gift of opportunity to serve-students brought back more than new construction skills. They returned with renewed conviction, deepened faith, and a commitment to continue serving others in their local and global communities. The trip stood as a powerful reminder that service transforms not only the communities reached, but the hearts of those who give. At St. Joseph High School opportunities like this trip are at the core of our commitment to forming ethical leaders grounded in faith, compassion, and the common good.

For more information about St. Joseph High School’s commitment to service and spiritual programming, visit www.sjcadets.org/campus-life. The school will also be hosting an Open House on Sunday, September 28, 2025 where families will be able to speak to current students directly and meet the school’s Director of Campus Ministry. For more information, visit sjcadets.org/openhouse.

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