Saint Martin's students return to Homeboy Industries

In early March 2026, 12 Saint Martin's University students and two chaperones traveled to Los Angeles for a six-day service immersion trip rooted in the Catholic, Benedictine values at the heart of the University's mission. Participating as part of the third phase of the Benedictine Leadership Program, which is open to all Saint Martin's students, they joined an immersion experience led by Mission Integration through the Dignity Center and Campus Ministry.

A highlight of the trip was a day spent at Homeboy Industries, the world's largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program founded by Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ. Access to Homeboy is not something granted automatically. Organizations from across the country seek opportunities to engage with Homeboy's work, and there is often a waiting list for immersive visits. Saint Martin's has now been invited to participate four times — an honor that reflects the University's longstanding relationships and the way our students engage with others thoughtfully and respectfully. In many ways, the invitation speaks to the character of Saint Martin's students and the University's commitment to preparing graduates who lead with compassion, integrity and a sense of responsibility to their communities.

Centered at Dolores Mission Catholic Church in Boyle Heights, the group prayed with the parish, cooked and shared meals with unhoused neighbors through the Guadalupe Homeless Project, volunteered in local classrooms and after-school programs, and learned alongside community members whose stories challenged assumptions and expanded perspectives. At Homeboy Industries, students toured the campus, ate at Homegirl Café and discovered how job training, tattoo removal, counseling and social enterprises such as Homeboy Bakery create pathways from violence toward hope and stability.

The trip further deepened Saint Martin's ongoing relationship with Homeboy Industries and Dolores Mission — partnerships that model a form of service grounded not simply in charity, but in long-term kinship, mutuality and advocacy.

Throughout the week, students participated in nightly reflections shaped by the Benedictine Hallmarks, connecting what they witnessed in Los Angeles to questions of vocation, justice and faith. Many described the immersion as "life-changing," "eye-opening" and "one of the best experiences" of their time at Saint Martin's.

One student reflected, "This trip forced me to reconsider my preconceptions... If you're ready to grow and transform how you see the world and its natural beauty, do it — you won't regret it."

Another shared that after meeting community members at Homeboy and Dolores Mission, they now feel called "to become the best nurse that I can be" and to seek ways to serve children and those experiencing homelessness.

Students also spoke of the profound spiritual impact of the experience. Several noted that walking Skid Row and praying with the Dolores Mission community changed how they understand the Gospel call to radical hospitality and respect for human dignity, strengthening or complicating their relationship with God in ways that invite deeper discernment.

"Christ's love radiates off of everything and everyone you meet," one student wrote. "The only way I can explain this trip is Jesus."

By the time they packed up on March 12, the group carried home more than memories of a spring break in sunny California. They returned with new friendships, a deeper awareness of injustice and a renewed commitment to living out the Benedictine values that define Saint Martin's University. As one participant summarized, "We not only served the community, we were served by them — and now we are responsible for what we've seen."

Experiences such as these remind us that Benedictine education extends far beyond the classroom.

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