"Dear Brothers and Sisters,

we urge all of you not to stop living,

to be a part of the rebirth of utopias,

to recover and defend the struggling dream of Appalachia itself..."

 

 

-Closing Prayer of the Pastoral Letters

by the Bishops of Appalachia

Alternative Break Mission Trip

Appalachia (Summers County, West Virginia)

For many Spring Breaks, students and young adults from the Newman Center traveled to the Bethlehem Farm, located in the Appalachia region of West Virginia!  

The Bethlehem Farm is “a Catholic community that transforms lives through service with the local community and the teaching of sustainable practices”.  

The community is formed on–and functions within–four main cornerstones: service, prayer, simplicity, and sustainability.

 

 

About Appalachia

Pronounced, “AP-ah-LATCH-a”, this region of the United States is home to approximately 25 million people and is usually best known for its widespread poverty and lack of education. While social issues in Appalachia are notable, the region has also made important contributions to general American culture including music, literature, folklore, and industry.  As part of team training, we learn more about the history and culture of Appalachia before encountering it firsthand.

 

Our Work

While at "B-Farm", team members are split into work groups with students from other colleges. Work groups rotate around to different constuction work sites throughout the week, as well as a day home at the Farm on "Home Crew" practicing the ministry of hospitality. During the week, team members learn firsthand about Appalachia and its extraordinary people, Catholic Social Teaching, sustainable farming, hospitality, construction, community living, and more.