Archbishop Mitty’s immersion trip program is one of our school’s major strengths as students follow the example of Jesus when he reached out to the poor and marginalized in society. The impact of these trips can be seen in the enthusiasm and dedication of the many students, faculty and staff who participate in them and then return with renewed hope and dedication in constructing a more just and equitable world. Participating on an immersion trip offers the opportunity to get to know fellow classmates and teachers in a new context and also provides a unique way to serve and learn outside of our own campus community. The immersion program instills four values of social justice, spirituality, simplicity, and community.
For questions, contact Mr. Tim Wesmiller (Immersion Program Coordinator)
Archbishop Mitty offers five immersion experiences for students to attend these 5-7 day experiences this spring and summer without needing to be enrolled in an ECJ course. Every Sophomore, Junior, and Senior who is interested may apply. The student and adult team meet approximately 3 times before the trip for education and group bonding. Seniors are limited to applying for the Dolores Mission Immersion, which takes place over Holy Week. Each of these immersion trips is designed to meet the threefold goal of interacting with and providing service to others, developing the individual student (cultural immersion, justice education, faith development), and enriching our entire school community.
There is a limited amount of financial assistance available to help students attend immersion programs. If you receive tuition assistance, you will automatically receive the same percentage of assistance for your immersion trip (example: 23% tuition reduction = 23% immersion reduction; 75% tuition reduction = 75% immersion reduction). Due to limited financial assistance for immersions, a student can receive financial assistance for only one immersion trip during their time at Archbishop Mitty.
This immersion trip will take place during Holy Week and students will have the opportunity to explore the various ministries of this dynamic parish. The economic reality of the people in East Los Angeles makes Dolores Mission the poorest parish in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Students will be involved in the celebration of the parish's Holy Week liturgical celebrations, work with the elementary school students in Dolores Mission School, help prepare food and feed immigrants who are experiencing homelessness and who sleep in the parish church each night, and see how ex-gang members are rebuilding their lives through Fr. Greg Boyle’s work with Homeboy Industries. Students will share their reactions to the trip through a daily prayer and reflection session each evening.
How does homelessness occur in some of the wealthiest places in the United States? This 5-day immersion experience invites students into the heart of San Francisco’s Tenderloin District to explore the realities of homelessness through meaningful service, deep learning, and genuine human connection. Each morning, participants serve meals in St. Anthony’s Dining Room and support the clothing program, offering dignity and hospitality to guests. In the afternoons, they partner with Faithful Fools—a local organization committed to building community and addressing the root causes of poverty—through hands-on activities that challenge assumptions and spark reflection. Evenings explore diverse neighborhoods of the city, witnessing both its beauty and its challenges. Lodging is provided at the International Youth Hostel, where students share rooms and gather for prayer, reflection, and group discussions.
Want to know where your food comes from? Students will spend 5 days in the Monterey Bay area working on local farms, ranches, and visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Together, students will learn about eating locally and seasonally, conventional vs. organic agriculture, sustainable fishing, the carbon footprint of the food we buy, the impact of food packaging on the environment, and labor practices connected with harvesting food. Lodging will be at a hostel in Monterey.
Want to help build a home? This week-long trip takes place with the help of Habitat For Humanity in the Pacific Northwest. Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization. They are dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat For Humanity will organize a work project to build a house for a family in need. We will stay at a local church that will provide a safe place to eat, sleep, and have evening reflections. Students must be at least 16 years old at the time of the trip to participate.
What if you could walk the very streets where history was made—and help shape the future at the same time? This transformative 10-day immersion trip offers students a powerful journey through the heart of the American South, exploring the deep roots of its complex history and the vibrant communities working for justice today. From the legacy of slavery and the scars of Jim Crow segregation to present-day struggles with environmental and educational inequality, participants will engage with the South’s past and present in meaningful and hands-on ways. Each day balances direct service in under-resourced neighborhoods with immersive learning experiences. Students will meet local leaders, visit iconic civil rights landmarks, and reflect on the movements that continue to shape our nation. Locations include New Orleans, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma, Alabama; and Atlanta, Georgia—cities steeped in both historical significance and ongoing efforts for change.
There is a limited amount of financial assistance available to help students attend immersion programs. If you receive tuition assistance, you will automatically receive the same percentage of assistance for your immersion trip (example: 23% tuition reduction = 23% immersion reduction; 75% tuition reduction = 75% immersion reduction). Due to limited financial assistance for immersions, a student can receive financial assistance for only one immersion trip during their time at Archbishop Mitty.
Students will travel to El Salvador after spending the school year together studying issues of social justice and culture in Central America. El Salvador trip themes include post-war and democratic transition, the current human rights situation, the role of the Catholic Church and its work for peace and justice both past and present, health care, alternative development models, poverty reduction, economic growth, human development, women in post-war Central America, sustainability, rights for marginalized groups, land tenure and agricultural issues, the plight of street/working children, workers’ rights, fair trade, and microcredit. In addition to visiting important cultural and religious pilgrimage sites, students will connect with local communities, designed to give an opportunity for both further cultural learning and deeper personal relationships.
Language Prerequisite: To participate in this course, students must be taking Spanish 3 or higher during Junior year or must have completed Spanish 3 or higher.
Special emphasis is placed on the culture and political history of South Africa. Students will study the unjust structure of Apartheid and its dismantling, and the past and present struggle against AIDS. Particular attention will be paid to the role of the Christian faith in the struggle for justice. Students will go to both Johannesburg, where they will explore Soweto, and Cape Town, where they will visit Robben Island Prison, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated. The group will serve with numerous organizations that work with orphans and other children in need.
This course will focus on social justice issues that are particular to California, and particularly the ethical challenges that young adults face in the state. Students will discover and develop for themselves a sense of conscience that will guide them throughout adulthood. Throughout the course, students will explore the components of moral decision-making and be encouraged to form a personal conscience rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition. The course will culminate in an eleven-day immersion experience to different locations in California such as St. Anthony’s Foundation in San Francisco, Save the Bay in San Jose, a migrant farm-working community in Salinas, and Dolores Mission Parish in East Los Angeles. In each of these locations, students will more clearly understand the social justice issues behind the recent experience of many Californians, and we will consider the ways Catholic Social Teaching drives us to do better. The group will pray and reflect together every night.
Special emphasis is placed on the social ethical issues related to Jamaica. Students will be able to gain an awareness of this country’s rich history and develop an understanding of its contemporary social, religious, and political concerns. The Jamaica immersion trip is hosted by the Catholic Diocese of Mandeville, which is located in the heart of Jamaica. In collaboration with the diocese students will serve the locals through tutoring students, building homes for community members, and participating in the richness of Jamaican culture. Students will be housed in a retreat center owned by the Diocese of Mandeville.
What if you could walk the very streets where history was made—and help shape the future at the same time? This transformative course and 10-day immersion trip offers students a powerful journey through the heart of the American South, exploring the deep roots of its complex history and the vibrant communities working for justice today. From the legacy of slavery and the scars of Jim Crow segregation to present-day struggles with environmental and educational inequality, participants will engage with the South’s past and present in meaningful and hands-on ways. Each day balances direct service in under-resourced neighborhoods with immersive learning experiences. Students will meet local leaders, visit iconic civil rights landmarks, and reflect on the movements that continue to shape our nation. Locations include New Orleans, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma, Alabama; and Atlanta, Georgia—cities steeped in both historical significance and ongoing efforts for change.
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