About the 2020 Mission Trip

The 2020 mission trip was on February 16 – 22, 2020 in San Pablo Episcopal Mission, Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Missioners stayed in the Catholic Retreat Center in Arecibo and food was provided by the wonderful parishioners at San Pablo and the Retreat Center

The missioners were from Saint James, St. Thomas, Lancaster; St. John’s, Lancaster; St. Luke’s, Mount Joy; Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania; Zion Lutheran, Manheim; and Community of Francis and Clare. Their goal was to work with  the Episcopal Diocese of Puerto Rico to determine projects and scope of work. Missioners paid their own airfare to and from Puerto Rico and other incidentals. Fundraising helped pay for supplies for job sites, lodging, food and transportation while there.

Learn more about our efforts to help our friends in Acerbo, Puerto Rico

2019 Mission Trip Summary

Click here to view photos of the 2019 trip.

When: February 24-March 2, 2019

Where: Arecibo, Puerto Rico

Who: In all—19 people from the following organizations: Saint James, St. John’s-Lancaster, St. Thomas-Lancaster, Zion Lutheran-Manheim and the Community of Francis and Clare.

Work: The Mission Trip Team worked on three homes. Two homes were in Arecibo and one home near San Pedro, about 20 minutes south of Arecibo. All three homes needed varying levels of roof repairs as a result of damage sustained from Hurricane Maria in 2017. There was also some interior painting, removal of debris and cleaning tasks involved. Two of the homes had partial electrical service while the home near San Pedro had no electrical service which required the use of a generator to run power tools. Many of the supplies used were provided by Episcopal Relief and Development and Diocese of Puerto Rico.

The fourth project was the rebuilding of the gazebo next to San Pablo Church, partially destroyed by Hurricane Maria. All funds used to repair the gazebo were provided by funds raised to support the Mission Trip. The gazebo is used for parish events and Sunday school classes and was a huge boost to the morale of the parish to see it being repaired.

Each day started at the Retreat Center with a time of meditation and breakfast with Morning Prayer and discussion following. The day continued with the work assignments until noon, when lunch was served at San Pablo’s. After lunch, the missioners returned to work until dinner where everyone returned to San Pablo’s. After dinner, the missioners had Evening Prayer and reflection on the day that just passed, then back to the Retreat Center for showers and rest. On Wednesday morning, the people at San Pablo’s hosted a moving Eucharist service for the missioners. During the last full day of the Mission Trip, missioners were given a cultural tour of parts of Puerto Rico and Br. David Rutledge participated in a panel discussion for the Board Members of Episcopal Relief and Development.

The Mission Trip was funded entirely by the generous donations and support from the Lancaster community including two fundraising events. Missioners were responsible for paying their own transportation costs to and from Puerto Rico and some meals. All other expenses including transportation while on Puerto Rico, food (most meals provided by the parishioners of Arecibo’s San Pablo Episcopal Church), lodging (at the Arecibo Catholic Retreat Center) and supplies for the reconstruction of the gazebo were paid for by funds raised for the Mission Trip.

The Mission Trip was very moving and transformative as the missioners got to experience the culture and deepen relationships with the good people of San Pablo’s parish as well as the Diocese of Puerto Rico.

2018 Mission Trip Summary

On August 12-18, 2018, twelve missioners from various churches and organizations in Lancaster and beyond, went to Puerto Rico on a common purpose; to assist with clean up and repairs following the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

Missioners included members of Saint James in Lancaster, Saint John’s in Lancaster, Zion Lutheran in Manheim, Lancaster County Council of Churches, Order of Saint Francis (St Louis, Missouri & New Orleans) and Society of Saint Francis in San Francisco. Two Brothers from OSF arrived 2 days early to help make arrangements with the Episcopal Diocese of Puerto Rico and the people and clergy at Misión San Pablo Apostol in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, where the group was to be based. The rest of the group arrived in San Juan on Sunday, August 12 to prepare for the drive to Arecibo approximately 55 miles west of San Juan.

The good people at San Pablo’s provided lunch and dinner for the group each day, and on Wednesday, the Feast Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we had a special Eucharist and time of sharing. Each day began with Morning Prayer and ended with Evening Prayer led by the Brothers of SSF. The job site, about a 10 minute drive, was the home of an elderly couple recommended by the clergy at San Pablo’s.

The work included removing debris from the roof and sealing it, cleaning the property of debris, assisting in the installation of electric service, purchasing and installing a new gas stove, cleaning and painting several rooms in the house, repairing the sink, toilet and shower in the bathroom and installing a cinder block barrier on the second floor porch.

The missioners had two persons who interpreted Spanish to English at the church and the job site. By the end of the week, everyone was exhausted from the hard, physical work, but also excited to have had a chance to share in the lives of two elderly people by getting to know them and making their living conditions a little better.

The group also developed new relationships with the diocesan staff and bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Puerto Rico. Many thanks for the prayers offered for the Mission Trip and for the financial support given. Each member of the Mission Trip team was responsible for paying their airfare. The funds raised by the Fiesta dinner in May and other donations were used for transportation during the week, lodging and supplies and materials.

Transform Jersey Shore Area

For the past three years, volunteers from Saint James have traveled northwest to the borough of Jersey Shore, in Lycoming County. Once an industrial boom-town, the area has endured economic difficulties made worse by massive industrial accidents and flooding from Hurricane Agnes in 1972.

Transform Jersey Shore Area (TJSA) is a hometown mission trip created by Trinity Episcopal Church in Jersey Shore, PA. This outreach program is bolstered by an ecumenical body of believers from area churches and organizations whose goal is to show and share the love of Christ—one community, one neighborhood, one life at a time. By forming community partnerships and relationships with their neighbors, they are working together to repair and renew homes and transform their town.

Saint James Plays a Role in this Endeavor

In August of 2015, 2016 and 2017, volunteers from Saint James traveled to Jersey Shore and contributed their time, skills, gifts and talents to neighborhoods in need.
In 2017, jobs included scraping and painting, installing insulation and siding, replacing a hot water heater and a kitchen faucet, installing two sets of steps and a deck and repairing a shingle roof.