The past Saturday, February 15, 2025, students from Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola welcomed the Boston College High School, a Jesuit institution, exchange students upon their arrival in Puerto Rico. Throughout the week, until February 20, CSI students accompanied BC High students as they explored the island, visiting El Yunque National Rainforest, Piñones, and Old San Juan.
However, the intrinsic part of the exchange was to serve as St. Ignatius of Loyola invites us; to seek and find God in all things, especially in the love of those we serve, understanding that while we assist them physically, they enrich us spiritually and mentally. The BC High students served at Hogar Carmelitano, assisting elderly residents, and at La Cocina del Ángel, where they prepared and distributed meals for the elderly in Río Piedras. Additionally, the 11th-grade students volunteered at AgroInnova in Caguas for environmental service and helped at Doña Denisse's house in the Puente Blanco neighborhood of Cataño. This event was organized by Caras con Causa, founded by Lic. Michael Fernández (CSI 2001), director of Escuela Rosalina. At Doña Denisse’s house, BC High students collaborated with students from Canisius High School, a Jesuit institution in Buffalo, New York.
I had the opportunity to participate in both parts of this year's exchange, traveling to Boston in November and now welcoming a student here. The idea of observing the world through the eyes of those invisible to society, and maybe even to us, just hits differently.
In downtown Boston, we met a Puerto Rican man, Mr. Carlos. He lived in Puerto Rico until he was 18th years old, studied at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and served as an advocate for veterans' rights in the U.S. court system. Nevertheless, his retirement salary is so low that he can only afford to pay for his house, choosing instead to develop his life in the streets. He told us about the harsh reality of living on the streets, constant fights among people, other dangers, and the unbearable cold of winter. Mr. Carlos shared that he is just 61 years old and eagerly awaiting his 62nd birthday because only then will he qualify for Social Security benefits. As soon as the money comes in, he plans to move back to Puerto Rico, live with his sister, and spend the rest of his life by the beach.
As he was telling us all of this, I was breaking apart, crying, trying to understand how these things happen in our society. But I also knew that just listening to his story made his day. Despite his situation, he remained happy.
We may be in different places, we may be different peoples, but we feel the same emotions because we are humans. Having the opportunity to later show the BC High students Puerto Rico and the things that make us proud of it taught us that we must live in the present, love, care, and serve others. We, as global citizens in formation, have a duty to procure social justice in any way we can, while defending and preserving what make us, us.
This exchange was an opening eye experience not only for me, but with everyone who were with us. The opportunity to learn from the perspective of life, service, and world, from another Jesuit school was just marvelous.
Special thanks to Mr. Michael Gardner and Ms. Arissa Troy for giving us the best experience in Boston, and to Mr. Jesús Quintana for pushing us out of our comfort zones, truly living out St. Ignatius’ Life Project.
The students who participated:
Alterio Rowan (BCH 2026) and Delroy Cofie (BCH 2026)- José Gil de Lamadrid Mercado (CSI 2026)
Jack Arendt (BCH 2026)- Héctor Mayol Pérez (CSI 2026)
Max Bohane (BCH 2026)- Luis Aponte Acevedo (CSI 2026)
Andrew McDonald (BCH 2026)- Luca Pirillo Ruiz (CSI 2026) and Alejandro Reynés Peñagaricano (CSI 2025)
Dante Salazar (BCH 2025), Jacob Adams (BCH 2026), and Ryan Cataldo (BCH 2026)- Oscar Casillas López (CSI 2026) and Pablo Nolla Cruz (CSI 2026)
Alexander Robles (BCH 2028) and Minh-Tri "Jacob" Dao (BCH 2026)- Josue Martínez Casiano (CSI 2026)
Liam Polis (BCH 2027) and Andrew Flaherty (BCH 2026)- Diego Ramos Rivera (CSI 2026)
Lukas Stefan (BCH 2026)- Antonio Negrón Vázquez (CSI 2025)
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