Saint James Mission Trip to Potter County
Helping others in need
Mission Trip to Potter County
Dates: July 13 – July 19, 2025
Next Planning meeting: Sunday, May 18, after the 10:30 AM Mass.
Overview
This is the fourth year that Episcopalians and Friends from Lancaster County will venture to the beautiful Northern Tier (NT) of Pennsylvania to help Potter County Habitat for Humanity on various projects. The NT has many state parks, forests, and streams, where hiking and biking, stargazing, swimming, fishing and camping are popular activities. Mission Trips can be a transformative experience for both missioners and those being served as we work to improve the lives of others. Prayer is central to Mission Trips as we work with our mission partners. Beautiful Brookland Retreat Center will be “Home Base.”
Partners
Potter County Habitat for Humanity
PO Box 208
Coudersport, PA 16915
814-320-0466
All Saints Brookland Retreat Center
3714 Fox Hill Road
Brookland, PA 16948
Accommodations
All Saints Brookland Retreat Center (All Saints Retreat House, All Saints Chapel)
Two large bedrooms with 4 beds each, one smaller bedroom with 2 beds (total of 10 beds), space for blowup mattresses/pads if needed, large meal space, sitting room, full kitchen, 2 showers, 4 toilets, worship space in the chapel, large front porch, place for a fire ring, and more.
Camping at All Saints Brookland Retreat Center is also an option to pitch a tent or park a camper with easy access to the Retreat House for meals, using restrooms and showers.
Oak Hall Bed & Breakfast (1 minute from All Saints)
26 S. Brookland Road, Rt 449, Ulysses, PA 16948
814-435-1184 - Marcia Wingo is the contact person
10 private rooms and baths
Note: if you choose this option, you must pay for the room and book it yourself; eat breakfast there or at All Saints.
Susquehannock Lodge (10 mins to Brookland)
5039 US 6 West
Ulysses, PA 16948
(814)435-2163 susquelgcarol@penn.com
Susquehannock Lodge Website
Breakfast is provided with your room.
Meals
Pairs of missioners will volunteer to prepare evening meals for everyone. Each participant will be expected to bring and prepare his or her own breakfast and lunch. In some cases, lunches may be provided by the homeowners for whom we will be working.
The Work
Potter County Habitat for Humanity, through the Brush with Kindness program, will provide a variety of jobs and all materials for the projects. All skill levels will be needed. Sample jobs from 2024: landscaping, painting, carpentry, electrical, cleaning, etc. Volunteers are needed to work at the Retreat House to prep meals, clean, lead worship, plan activities, transport to and from job sites, coordinate safety efforts and more. Potter County Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 208, Coudersport, PA 16915 - 814-320-0466
Cost
We plan to donate for the use of the Brookland Retreat Center for the week and a donation to Potter County Habitat for Humanity. Contributions to the Mission Trip Fund at Saint James are appreciated. A link will be available for safe, online giving, or checks can be sent to Saint James with 2025 Mission Trip on the memo line. Everyone will be expected to bring their own breakfast, lunch and snack food, and to provide the groceries for the evening meal, which they volunteer to prepare. All are welcome to bring food items to share if they wish. Those staying at the B&B must book and pay for their own room. A stargazing night may be an option (depending on weather) and we will need to pay our “guide.”
Have questions about the trip? Click here to email Paul Hoffer.
