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.
1. Families are encouraged to attend Immersion Information Night on November 7, 2024 at 6pm in the AMHS Chapel.
2. Applications will open on November 12th and are due at 11:59pm on November 26th. Students should go to the AMHS portal and find the "Forms" link on the left hand side to select the immersion application. Applications will not be accepted late.
3. Students need to ask one current Mitty academic teacher to complete an electronic recommendation on their behalf. You may only ask teachers who are listed on the dropdown list on the application form. After asking the teacher, indicate on your application form who will be completing your recommendation. Please request recommendations from teachers prior to submitting their names on the application. If you do not ask your teacher for a recommendation but still submit their name, they do not have to complete the recommendation, which could disqualify you.
4. Decisions for selection will be sent by email to students by mid-January. Selections will be based on seniority, quality of application and teacher recommendation, gender balance and previous immersion experience.
5. Once students are accepted, the payment will be added to the student's FACTS payment plan.
For questions, contact Mrs. Bea Scott (Immersion Program Cordinator)
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.
This 5-day trip takes place in the Tenderloin of San Francisco. During the day, students serve food in St. Anthony’s Dining Room, sort clothes, talk with seniors at the Senior Day Center, and deliver meals to homes. They are introduced to the full spectrum of services that St. Anthony’s provides to address the needs of the impoverished and homeless in the city. The group sleeps at the International Youth Hostel downtown. In the evenings, there is time for reflection, prayer, and discussion, as well as for exploring various neighborhoods in the city as a group.
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.
There is a limited amount of scholarship available to help students attend immersion programs. If you receive financial aid for tuition, you will automatically receive the same percentage of financial aid for your immersion trip (example: 23% tuition reduction = 23% immersion reduction). Due to limited financial aid for immersions, a student can receive financial aid 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.
Throughout this course students will gain an awareness of India’s rich history that will illuminate many of India’s contemporary issues. Students will focus on key social justice issues such as rural/urban poverty and the struggle over equitable development. We will also examine the role of globalization in regards to India being a key player in outsourcing centers of multinational corporations, developing technologies, and manufacturing inexpensive goods. Other objectives of the class are to study the complex and evolving role of women in religion, family, and society. The class will also examine the efforts of various religions to coexist and dialogue despite the emergence of fundamentalist and secularist movements. Finally, we will research Gandhi’s non-violent resistance movement and how it is still being lived out today in the face of nuclear build-up and terrorism. The class will culminate in a two-week trip to the cities of Delhi, Agra, Bangalore, and Mysore. Some highlights include visiting temples, call centers, orphanages, the Taj Mahal, and hearing from experts in several fields of study. Reflective prayer services occur each 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.
