STEUBENVILLE, OHIO — More than 30 Franciscan University of Steubenville students, staff, and faculty used their summer academic break this year to serve others as part of the University’s Missions of Peace Program.

Twenty students, along with advisors and Franciscan TOR friars, spent nearly three weeks serving at the Fundación Santa María del Fiat and the Santa María del Fiat School in Olón, Ecuador.

The missionaries assisted with English lessons in the local elementary and high schools in the mornings, and in the afternoons, they helped the children with homework, sports, music, and daily life at the foundation, which provides a home for children from difficult family situations.

For sophomore Amelie Fontenot of Lafayette, Louisiana, the experience was life-changing.

“Once I got there, it was purely just receiving everything the Lord had for me,” she said. “I was fully embraced by the children and their joy. Even though they have so little, they radiate more joy and love than many kids I see here in the U.S.”

Fontenot was especially moved by the openness of the children to share their burdens.

“One little girl told me she didn’t have any friends at school. Another child cried because he wanted to go home to his family, even though it wasn’t safe for him to return. Carrying their crosses with them brought me closer to Blessed Mother Mary, who aches for every person,” she reflected. “The biggest thing I’ve carried back is that everyone is suffering, and what people want most is simply to be loved.”

Senior English major Anabel Stickney of Butler, Pennsylvania, also served on the mission in Ecuador. For her, the highlight was seeing faith break through language barriers.

“One night, the older girls asked us to sing a praise song, and they all joined in. For over an hour, we sang together. We didn’t need to talk. We just praised God together in our own languages,” she recalled.

Stickney also said the slower pace of life in Ecuador taught her something she is bringing back to campus.

“There, we had daily Mass, Holy Hour, and prayer. It showed me I can make time for that here, too. The kids’ faith, despite their painful backgrounds, really impacted me. They still believe in God and forgiveness,” she said.

In addition to the Ecuador mission, seven Franciscan students and two friars served in Steubenville, Ohio, and nearby Pittsburgh. They volunteered at St. Anthony House, Urban Thrift, the Friendship Room, a local food pantry, and the Red Door ministry. Their work supported underprivileged and lower-income residents of the Ohio Valley.

Franciscan University’s Missionary Outreach Program sends over 300 students each year on more than a dozen domestic and international missions, seeking to bring Christ’s love to the poor and marginalized. Learn more about this Franciscan University outreach program at Missions of Peace and view images from this summer’s mission trip to Ecuador here.