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Trip Destination: El Salvador, Central America. Participants spend time in San Salvador, the capitol, and spend two nights in El Ocotillo, a rural village in Morazan, in the eastern highlands.
Trip Dates: Approximately 8 – 10 days during spring break, February 29 – March 9, 2008
Coordinating Organizations: Boston College Office of Campus Ministry and Department of Theology, in collaboration with Fundahmer, the organization that has hosted Boston College delegations for many years. |
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Course: "Church and Society in El Salvador"
o Time: Mondays at 1:00-3:00 pm
o Level I
o Maximum Size: 14 undergraduate students, including 2 Student Leaders
o Restriction: Department permission only (for students participating in the Arrupe program with a spring break 2008 trip to El Salvador)
o Course description: This course concentrates on faith and social justice in El Salvador. It provides an overview of the economic, political, social and legal history of El Salvador, but gives special attention to theological and ethical concerns. The historical frame includes indigenous culture, Spanish conquest, and nineteenth century developments, but focuses especially on the period of the civil war and its aftermath. Topics include the church and colonialism, dictatorship, the rise of the popular church and liberation theology, human rights and democratization, the peace process, the challenges of reconstruction, and the impact of globalization. Special attention is given to the virtue of solidarity developed in the work and lives of the martyrs of El Salvador.
o Requirements: Seminar participation, mid-term exam, and major paper.
El Salvador Trip Itinerary: Along with program participants, Fundahmer, the program’s in-country host organization, designs the trip’s itinerary and coordinates each day’s activities, which include meetings and conversations with representatives of the Church, the government, various political parties, and several non-governmental organizations involved with human rights, globalization and trade, post-war transition and reconciliation, among other topics. While learning about macro-level social, economic, political and religious issues from various perspectives, participants also have the opportunity to witness first hand the joys and struggles of people profoundly impacted by the war and by policies and situations they can’t control.
During the trip, participants learn about the life, work, and death of Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was martyred in 1980; the four U.S. Church-women who were killed at the start of the civil war in 1980; and the six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter who were murdered in 1989. Participants travel to Morazan, in the eastern highlands, to reconnect with Salvadoran friends in the rural community of El Ocotillo, which has graciously hosted BC delegations for several years. Prayer, reflection, journaling and sharing are core aspects of this experience before, during, and after the trip.
Language Proficiency: Although being able to speak Spanish is useful while on the trip, applicants do not need to be proficient in any language other than English to participate.
Safety: Boston College considers the U.S. Department of State’s published recommendations regarding public safety in order to better understand the current situation in a potential host country. For travel-related recommendations published by the U.S. Department of State, please check the U.S. Department of State’s website: http://www.state.gov/travel/
Immunizations: Boston College requests that participants seriously consider protecting themselves with the immunizations and other preventative measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). For more information, please check the CDC’s website: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/vaccinat.htm.
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