A Mission of Their Own: Belen Alumni Mission Launches

(This article was first published in the Belen Alumni Magazine - Winter 2026 edition.)

Giving back has always been woven into the fabric of Jesuit life. It shows up in school-wide initiatives, community service, and—most powerfully—in the life-changing Belen Youth Mission trip (BYM).

 

Carrying this spirit forward, alumni José López-Varela ’87, Eduardo García ’87, and Carlos Lastres (father of Kevin ’14 and Eric ‘18) began discussing ways they could serve meaningfully while reconnecting with one another and living the call to be men for others. What started as a simple conversation quickly evolved into a structured, recurring initiative: the Belen Alumni Mission trip (BAM).

 

Having chaperoned BYM for many years, the founders felt called to create an experience specifically for alumni — one that would allow adults to reconnect through service, community, and Ignatian spirituality. Their goal was clear: re-engage alumni of all ages in a unified mission, provide life-changing support to communities in need, strengthen the Belen brotherhood across generations, and extend the school’s humanitarian reach far beyond campus. Unlike BYM, BAM is designed for adults with diverse professional backgrounds, allows them to contribute specialized skills, and fosters a peer-to-peer brotherhood rooted in mature spiritual reflection.

“The Belen Alumni Mission felt less like a traditional service project and more like a typical Belen encounter from back in high school—one that stretched far beyond the walls of a single classroom. This time, instead of bonding with just our own classmates, 30 alumni from classes spanning half a century forged friendships that will truly last a lifetime,” said Javier Mariscal ‘86.

 

Planning for the inaugural trip began early in 2025, once the founders confirmed both the interest and the feasibility of launching a mission-style alumni service program.  The planning phase took approximately four to five months, and this included site coordination, logistics, participant outreach, and developing the spiritual and service components of the trip. 

 

To organize a successful mission, the founders had to identify a community with pressing needs and a trustworthy local partner. They had to ensure safe and reliable accommodations and transportation, and determine realistic goals for a five-day trip, including the coordination of construction materials, tools, and local labor support. In addition to the labor-intensive demands, the alumni team also organized daily spiritual reflections and masses.  

 

They ultimately selected the town of Los Higos in the Dominican Republic, a rural community outside Santiago facing severe poverty and an urgent need for safe, dignified housing. It was very evident at first glance that this village was a place where the alumni’s efforts would create tangible, immediate change. This rural community was composed of humble and hardworking individuals who welcomed the alumni with warmth, humility, and gratitude.

 

Once the plans were made and logistics addressed, it was just a matter of getting the word out to the alumni. Promotions for this opportunity were handled through class groups, the alumni website, the e-newsletter, other communication channels, word of mouth among class delegates, and some personal invitations from the organizing team.  The idea spread quickly, and enthusiasm grew faster than anticipated; before they knew it, alumni from various graduating classes were responding to the call to service. A total of 30 alumni signed up to travel, representing classes from 1973 to 2019. In October 2025, they embarked on the first-ever Belen Alumni Mission trip.

 

“It has been over 25 years since I participated in the Belen Youth Missions. On our first alumni mission to the Dominican Republic, we built six homes—yet what we brought back was even more meaningful. Through the work and the moments of quiet reflection, we reconnected with the values that continue to guide us and discovered anew the purpose found in giving back,” said Steven Henriques ’99. 

 

Throughout the week, alumni worked side by side with locals, sharing stories, laughter, and meals. In reality, this cultural exchange became one of the defining strengths of the trip. The village, with its lush landscapes and simple homes, was inhabited by families who worked hard despite limited resources. The group assisted in the construction and remodeling of six homes for local families in need. They even took on the opportunity to enhance a neighboring house that was not part of the original project. Javier Cantens ’95, who had signed up for the trip but was unable to travel due to a last-minute conflict, was an integral part of the organizing committee, overseeing overall construction and reviewing plans and cost estimates for all necessary materials.

 

The mission included many memorable experiences, such as attending daily Masses and reflections, sharing stories during evening gatherings, and enjoying meals prepared by locals and José Toledo ’96. Additionally, the alumni group had the opportunity to connect with Jesuit novices, including Luis González ’20 and other Jesuits from Mexico and Nicaragua.

 

One impactful memory for López-Varela was “personally seeing grown men from recent graduates to 50-plus-year-old alumni united in service.  It was profoundly inspiring to witness alumni from different generations form authentic friendships,” he said.

 

Although the trip was filled with positive, memorable moments, it also had some hardships along the way. It was a challenge to adjust to rural working conditions and limited resources. It was also difficult to coordinate construction timelines, manage the logistics of 30 participants in an unfamiliar location, and balance physical labor with the spiritual schedule. In addition, the area was unexpectedly hit by flooding rains from Tropical Storm Melissa as it moved through the Caribbean. The group overcame these challenges through teamwork, flexibility, and strong communication. Alumni supported one another, adapted quickly, and relied on local partners who guided on-site work.

 

“We gathered each day to pray together, to celebrate Mass with Fr. Mike Martínez, S.J. ’09, and to open our hearts about why we had come. No one wanted the nights to end. We talked for hours, laughed until we couldn’t breathe, cried in each other’s arms, hugged like brothers who had finally come home, and gave thanks to God for letting us live out the motto that has shaped us: to be men for others,” said Mariscal ‘86.

 

“The Eucharist is the ‘source and summit of our faith’ (Catechism 1324) and an essential ingredient of the mission trip,” said Fr. Martínez, S.J. ‘09. “As I repeated many times in our daily homilies, ‘there is no Last Supper without a washing of the feet’. In other words, there is no authentic worship of God without an authentic service and love to our neighbor.”

 

One of the most moving moments of the trip was the actual handing over of the finished homes to the respective families. It was a moment that few words could describe, and one that will undoubtedly live in the minds of those involved for the rest of their lives. For López-Varela ‘87, it was all about “the gratitude of the families receiving their renovated homes, and the emotional reactions from alumni who experienced firsthand how their work transformed lives. The sense of purpose, unity, and faith will stay with all of us forever,” he said.

 

The vision for this project is to expand into a year-round alumni service program with one international mission trip each year, or two trips per year as demand grows. The long-term goal is to establish a sustainable, large-scale Alumni Mission Program that builds long-term relationships with communities abroad, involves alumni across multiple decades, and becomes a signature Belen alumni tradition, with members striving to serve as an example of lifelong Ignatian formation. 

 

Alumni wishing to get involved can participate in future mission trips or contribute financially through the Fund for Belen, supporting materials, tools, and travel for those in need. They can also join local service projects or serve as class ambassadors to help recruit others. Every act of support—financial or hands-on—expands the mission’s reach. For more information, email 

alumni@belenjesuit.org.