Noah Stein: As I look back on the past week I spent in Browning, I keep thinking about the same word: Immersion. But what is that truly? As I’ve looked back, that word isn’t just the title of the program at Calvert Hall, or the fancy word we use to inscribe our custom hoodies. To go on an immersion trip, to immerse, is to bring yourself into something new and uncomfortable for the sake of growth and hope. Browning, Montana, to be frank, is one of the poorest places physically that I have ever been to. The houses were barely in livable condition. The roads were bumpy. The kids' clothes were raggedy, and the school was running short on volunteers. So, we immersed ourselves in these conditions. We turned towards the things we as privileged people purposefully closed our eyes too. We worked as hard as we could all week to bring a little light to the darkness we were seeing, and when we opened our eyes even more, we saw that it wasn’t all dark to begin with. See, Browning is poor physically. They had close to 170 funerals over the course of 2025. Alcohol abuse is rampant, and the grocery store prices are close to $8 for a loaf of bread. We were told that almost 50% of all people in Browning are below the poverty line. It is a community in a lot of pain. However, there is so much hope. The high school is one of the nicest buildings in the area. They value education more and more each day and want the future generations to succeed and make a real change. The Blackfeet people love, and they love hard. They love each other, include each other, and take care of each other. Browning is open to their suffering, and work to fix it. I think back home, we tend to shy away from our suffering and work as hard as possible to fix everything else, when all we need to fix is ourselves. As I keep thinking about the trip, I realize I have so much to learn from these kids, this community, and this world. The emphasis was on being present in the moment, and that changed my life and how I look at life. While I wish this trip never had to happen and that the Blackfeet people could have their land and their home and survive in their own way, I am grateful that I could try and add on to the hope and future change of a community like Browning, Montana. 

Ben Kim: I’m changed emotionally, in my faith, and mentally. My changes in all of these really show that going to Montana works. You will change. This is only if you are open and present for the entire trip. I finally had my Jesus aha moment on this trip. Funny, it was pretty much exactly how Elijah from the Bible had his. Emotionally, I have become more open to my feelings. I have learned that shoving everything down a well does not help anyone, and it sure doesn’t help yourself. It’s good to open yourself up and actually talk about yourself. Mentally, I have become stronger but also weaker. Becoming stronger meant facing my demons head-on and beating them. Becoming weaker has shown that I have become broken into several pieces. Still, now I am putting them back together in a healthier way that includes important things in my life like God, my family, my girlfriend, and healthy habits. In order to make this trip mean something, you need to be two things specifically. Open. Present. Being open and present makes the trip actually change you as a person. Being open to the fact of my phone being taken and open to the fact that I was going to change made everything. I was definitely present on this trip. It showed in the classroom, showing how I really was initiative and how I was helping these kids to the full extent of my ability. I want my identity to be rooted in the Lord’s name. I have not been that present in the Lord’s presence ever, but now I am. I am taking the extra effort to know my God, and it’s evident I’ve heard from others. I also want it to be rooted in not having to look for validation from every single important person in my life. I don’t need to feel the pressure every single minute of the day to be perfect for some people who don’t matter that much in my life. Wanting your purpose to be something is complicated. Everyone wants their purpose to be for them. But what about God? What can you do that also reflects God in your actions? I wanted to become a cologne salesman for a massive company like Louis Vuitton or Chanel, or Dior for the longest time. Now my mindset has switched. I want to help people. I want my purpose to be to help people, and I can do that by becoming a financial advisor. I also want to learn how to cut hair and do things like Vicblends does, like give free haircuts to the less fortunate people. God has been present multiple times. He has really been present during reflection, in the classroom, and also in Adoration. In reflection, it was a time to sit down, calm down, and relax. Mr. McCormick and Ms. Fasy made it obvious in the questions that we need to see God in what we were doing. It was difficult to see it at first. That leads me to the classroom, one of the questions was where do we see God in the kids. I personally did not see him in the kids directly, but in their minds. They were so strong in their minds. Also, seeing God in adoration was a crazy experience. It was exactly how Elijah did in the bible. Putting on my jacket, sitting in the heat and the silence, I felt God directly. Overall, this trip has changed me and guided me in such a way that I cannot explain, but know that it will benefit me so much in my and my peers' futures. 

Will: During this trip there where many highs and only a couple of lows. One big high was the bond I made with the kids and the connection I had with them. Which relates to one of the lows which was leaving them at the end of the trip which was sad in a good way because it felt like I really cared for these kids. Also another high is just meeting new friends I will have for a life time on this trip and experiencing the Calvert hall brotherhood. I think God's in this all because you can see it in every kid and also the work we are doing. Especially with the kids coming from a hard home life they still seem to put a smile on their face every morning. Also we all did God's work this week and working for the poor and vulnerable like are school teaches us to do. I think I am coming back with brothers not friends and also more ability to put myself out there in the world and find the lost sheep. Also, I have a new great found respect of teachers and all their unnoticed hard work. I think my identity is rooted in my beliefs in God and my values I hold. I also believe it’s deeply rooted in my creativity which is a gift from God.  Overall, it was a life changing experience. 

Noah Myers: I have to learn that the church's mission is to worship God by teaching faith and spreading the gospel. Worshiping God means to love, trust, and try to live as he teaches. Many people (include my old self), think that worshiping God is just praying, singing, or reading the bible. But the Bible actually teaches that true worship is done through spreading love to others, forgiving, acting justly, and helping those who are in need. Worshiping God is done by loving God and showing it through how you live your life. I am going to use this experience to make me better by remembering these memories when I face speedbumps / obstacles in my faith journey, having more patience towards others, keeping my family relationships close and strong, and using these lessons to spread God's word to others. I went because I truly believed that from how much Ms. Fasy was asking me about going; it would be an influential trip on my life. But my gosh did I underestimate how much this would truly help me. I mean I was not even thinking about the friends I would make or the lessons I would learn. I am writing this in the comfort and warmth of my own room, but I truthfully wish I was still there right now. I already miss being around everyone on the trip, and even more the reflections. I will miss this trip for a very long time. God is right beside me. He was with both Mr. McCormick and Ms. Fasy as they guided and comforted me during reflection, with the students and faculty at De La Salle as they challenged me the whole week to be the best version of myself, with the brothers who graciously gave a place to rest and food to eat, with the community of people that back the school and appreciate what it is doing for the town of Browning, and of course in the beautiful Glacier National Park which made everyone in the group look at the mountains with awe. God is also with us as we return to our "normal lives", helping us remember all the memories, people, and lessons we learned. Gosh, he's even with me as I'm writing this, wishing I had more time around those kids and with my brothers. But I know now that I need to use everything this trip has taught me; to make a difference towards the people I interact with every day. Whether that be through teaching faith or just showing compassion. Because if I have learned one thing from this trip, it is that everyone has an answer for a perceived flaw, and that I should never judge someone until I truly know the whole story. And I know that God will continue to be with me every step of the way to remind me of that.

Stecco: I have learned a lot more of how much potential I have if I apply myself and my identity as a person which was the word assigned to me ironically. I learned that the people who pass your vision the most and you tend to always see but never go up to for whatever reason tend to be your people and they in all can build a true community. One of the best things that I got reminded of was that we are all human and all of us have our own flaws, strengths, and poverties. Whether that is materialistic or more deeply enveloped. I have been truly mentally strengthened and guided by God on this trip. I’ve found so much wisdom and new perspectives that I definitely hoped I would get but didn’t know how I would come by them. This trip has strengthened me as a man and has strengthened my faith in God and believe it or not; my belief that people aren’t so bad and all I have to do is go out of my comfort zone and grow with an open mind. I went in with a somewhat clueless ready mind. Ready to face whatever challenges were thrown at me. I also went in with an open mind to criticism of my actions or things that I need to improve. I also just wanted to truly help and connect with these kids, which I think I was able to achieve. My purpose did slightly change but not for the worse, I think God guided me on a better path and outcome for this trip also I accomplished more because of that. I found God all over this trip in the CHC guys and staff, in the struggle, and most influentially found it in the kids of DeLaSalle Black Feet. These kids are so immensely connected to God, and they just have such a heart once they allow you into it. One of my favorite students was struggling with one aspect of his work but then when it got to Religion class, he was raising his hand left and right and had so much wisdom in his workbook responses. Many say they’re in poverty, but I’d couldn’t disagree more. They have all they need..., which is God. If you have God, then you have all you need. They are covered in that reality, and it’s a true blessing to have built a relationship that I’ll miss every day. God Bless, Evan

Jack:  Friendship looks like the people around me that truly care for me. Throughout the trip I relied on many people around me to hear me out when I expressed my feelings. I felt like I really got close to the brothers around me. Before I signed up, I honestly couldn't name most of them. I feel truly blessed to have built a connection with the people I was with. Before Montana, I didn't think I could open up to my friends now. Friendship looks like me opening up to the people around me that do truly care about me. This experience helped me express my feelings in a healthy way and not let them boil up inside of me and tear me down. I always used to get in my head a lot, and I have been working on just letting go of all the stress I carry. I was able to lean on the people around me in Montana to make me feel like a better person. I have learned I can't carry the guilt and stress of other people in my life and truly just live the life I was meant to. Living through the guilt of others has put a lot of stress on me and I have felt like all they stressed was relieved when I talked through my problems. At first, I went because Ms. Fasy asked me to. I felt like I should go because she said it would help me with my leadership in the classroom, in life, and on the field. Also, I have only been on one plane ride ever, so I thought it would be good to experience a different state. Also obviously to grow close to God. This changed throughout the week because Ms. Fasy challenged me to work on my mental health and reach out to the people around me for help. I felt like I could really open up to the people around me. I believe God worked through Ms. Fasy and the other students on the trip. I believe God has always had a plan for me, but I didn't really see it. I believe God sent Ms. Fasy to help me from the moment she asked me to come on the trip. Ms. Fasy helped bring light to my past, which was not the best. This helped me to deal with my problems and how I could move on from my problems and live a healthier life. I also think God is present through all the teachers they work at the De La Salle Blackfeett school because they truly care for all the students and try to help them as much as possible with all the trauma they deal with. Those kids don't live an easy life, and I thought it was beautiful that those teachers devote so much time to help those kids to try and live a normal life. A lot of them didn't have access or didn't have the best education when they got to the school and those teachers had to deal with a lot of stress to help them get a good education. I feel truly blessed to be a part of the immersion trip to Montana. 

Luke: Leadership and friendship have taken a whole new meaning for me after going on this life-changing trip. Friendships for me use to not be strong, I would see my friends in school and then go home. After this trip friendship is family, my friendships are going to be very tight and fruitful. The Blackfeet community has shown me what true brotherhood would look like, and I want to bring that back to Calvert Hall. My perspective of leadership has also changed. In the past I have been a very reserved conservative leader, but this trip has shown me that someone needs to step-up in certain situations and command a group even if it is not what the group likes. This trip has drastically improved my servant leadership qualities in feeding the community, teaching, and helping around the school. This has shown me that I need to step-up to command a group with certain words that encourage the group to listen to me. I also need to lead by example as a servant leader more often so that others will follow what I do. I feel this experience has changed my perspective of addicted populations. I have always disregarded them, but after immersing myself in the Blackfeet community, they are the most welcoming joyous people, they are just hurting. I feel I have grown in my patience after living with 13 other people in the Bunkhouse and I feel I have grown more optimistic after this trip. This trip has made me a better person. I went on this trip because I went on an Immersion trip Freshmen year and didn’t have a great time, but I heard all about this trip and that it was the best one. I was still a little skeptical in the first couple of MT meetings but as I learned more, I got more excited. Throughout the trip. I got increasingly sad/eager to leave. I missed my home and parents, but it was such a good trip with the group of guys we went with, and I had such a good time helping the students at the school we tutored at. I was sad to leave the brotherhood we built between the Calvert Hall guys but also sad to leave the kids at the school whom we built a true bond with. God is/was in all of it. Even at home, we were going to have a whole week of schoolwork to make up but the snow helped us with only three async days to make up. God was definitely in everything we did there, in every reflection, in every classroom. Our reflections were very fruitful and productive changing everyone’s perspectives. God brought our Calvert Hall group closer as a true brotherhood through this trip.

Nate: I learned how to be open and honest. I learned that through honesty, I can build relationships. I also learned that when I am open, I am better able to reach others and truly connect with them. Originally, I thought we went on this trip to help others and teach them, but I was mistaken. I realized that the people I interacted with actually taught me instead. By learning about their lives and the importance of their surroundings, I learned how to grow and reflect on my own experiences. I gave myself up by being honest. I took accountability for my mistakes and was open about them. I realized that I need to acknowledge my own mistakes before focusing on the mistakes of others. I find my identity in those around me and in the communities, I surround myself with. I also find my identity in God. I realized that when I surround myself with people who share common interests, I am able to interact more easily and build stronger relationships. I found my strongest connections with others when God was the topic of conversation. My favorite moments were when others were smiling. Each night while we made dinner, the bunkhouse was filled with laughter. Another favorite moment was helping students. One specific example was when I helped an eighth-grade student with math. At first, he struggled with different concepts and even reached a point where he did not want to try anymore, so we moved on. The next day, we tried again, and this time he began to understand the ideas. When he got a problem right, he smiled uncontrollably. This was the highlight of my week. Seeing someone smile because of their own accomplishments is truly beautiful.

Ben Hanover: After our trip to Montana I realized that my true friends are the ones who are always there for me no matter what. The ones that truly care about my well being and love me unconditionally. I second guessed going on this trip so many times because I wasn't "friends" with many of the other kids who went. This trip helped us realize that the Calvert Hall community is more united than people see. Everyone has something in common and problems that they have buried. Friendship is about being open and vulnerable with each other and not stuffing your problems away for you to handle by yourself. As a leader, I need to be more aware of how others want to be led and not just leading based on how I want/have been led. Everyone has their preferences; not everyone wants to be yelled at, some like to be led through action, and others like a mix of both vocal and action based leading. It is important for me to learn how to adapt to everyone's preferences to be the best leader I can be. Now that I've seen poverty other than the kind we see every day, I am more aware to the problems that take place with this kind of poverty. I can seek it out and help those that need it. This all leads back to friendship and not always laughing and pushing problems to the side but helping each other get through their issues and their own poverties. I think as time goes on, I will become a better person and use what I learned for the benefit of others. I believe God will guide me to become a better person and put me in the situations where I am needed to become that person. I went because Ms. Fasy asked me to. There wasn't a real reason behind me going other than I was asked to and I had one friend who was also going. As the week went on, I realized the real reason I went was because God was telling me I needed to for my benefit, but also for the benefit of my peers to guide each other through what it means to me a man, a leader, and a friend. I believe as a group we all touched each other in some sort of way and created a bond that will last longer than just that week. I saw God through my peers who also went. God was talking to me through them reassuring that I made the right decision in going on the trip. I also saw God through the kids at the school who needed help the most. I am so grateful that I went on the Montana Immersion trip. It helped me as a follower of Christ, a leader, a friend, and a man. 

Shane: I went to do what I love and what us as Christians are called to do—to serve and bring the joy of the Lord upon the kids. When I went to Montana, I was expecting to be touched or moved by the kids. Yet I found something I wasn’t even looking for. Instead, I discovered a community of brothers and friends who went with me, and they truly made the biggest impact on this trip. Coming home, I’m feeling blessed and my answered prayers of trying to find the brotherhood at Calvert Hall. Looking ahead, what is next is whatever God calls me to, and I’m trying to be as open to His will as possible. Because of this experience, I carry the knowledge of the struggles and burdens the kids carry every day and try to be like them. I also carry the compassion and understanding that people fight silent battles, and we should treat them with more love as Jesus told us to. Through it all, He was moving through giving me something I desired yet wasn’t looking for. In the end, the brotherhood I found on the trip gave me peace and joy, especially when I reflect on my Calvert Hall journey. 

Ben McMullen: When someone asks me, “why were you on this trip,” I have a hard time answering it. I feel like I should have some big divine calling, but I went on this trip because I just thought I should. Since sophomore year, I’ve gone to Camden and Chicago. I felt that in my senior year, I should try something bigger and more challenging, so I went to Montanna. In my other two trips, a trend that I found was that you grew really close to the guys you were with, but when we return to our everyday lives, guys fade away. I think the best way to keep the spirit of the trip alive is to actively try to maintain a relationship with the guys that were part of the trip through small or large things. Ideas I had were going to mass together, doing other service outings, or a scheduled get-together. Anything that involves interacting with each other. Similar to answering the question about why I was on the trip, when I am asked to find “what has changed,” I also don’t have a great answer yet. I went into the trip with a set of questions that were more like goals, but instead of finding those answers, I left with more questions. The week was challenging and I interacted with more people than expected and pushed myself more than I was comfortable with, but as I leave, I don’t find anything different. I don’t believe I’ve learned a virtue or skill that I can take back with me and that is a very hard thing for me to accept right now. Furthermore, when the trip started, my faith life was poor. Activities and discussions with the group were difficult for me because I couldn’t understand the importance or significance of what we were doing. Near the end, I found a motivation to try to find my faith again. My faith life is currently still weak; however, it is my goal to try and improve on my faith. I have a handful of regrets after the trip, but one thing I do not regret is going on the trip and trying something new. I am incredibly grateful to have been able to go to Montanna and would recommend it to anyone. 

Jackson: To me, friendship now looks like being close to the people you trust the most. It matters who you call your friends, and that’s something I’ve come to realize while in Montana. This has affected my leadership because I’ve learned that you have to get to know the person or people you’re leading before they can trust you, and you must build that relationship. This experience will help me to be better through my leadership and my compassion for others. I wouldn’t say this trip has made me better yet, but it has set the foundation for it. At the beginning, I went because I thought it would be cool to teach a class and be more involved in campus ministry, in a way, but that changed over the time I was there, and I realized I was there for stronger relationships. I think God was there the whole time through our travels, walking around the reservation, and through the weather. God spoke through us to the kids there and acted through our actions to uplift those kids to know Him better.