The Grace J. Palmisano Center for Campus Ministry’s first-ever SEND Trip to El Salvador gave 10 Merrimack College students an immersive understanding about the Salvadoran Civil War and its aftermath.
“It was really unique because it was so focused on the experiences of the people and their faith during a really hard time,” said the Rev. Dan Madden, O.S.A., director of campus ministry. “We learned a lot about people who died for their faith by standing up for the rights of the poor and oppressed. We visited places where people were assassinated. It made it unique and very challenging.”
The trip was co-organized with Christians for Peace (CrisPaz) in El Salvador, a faith-based advocacy group.
”The organization invites groups from across the globe to visit El Salvador and hear stories of political unrest and the system of violence that had been put in place,” explained Rileigh Armstrong, associate director of campus ministry. “They also ask visitors to reflect on their own lives and consider how they can advocate for nonviolence in their own communities.”
Emily Hanrahan ’26 served as one of the two student leaders on the trip alongside Rory Perretti ’26. The 2025 Newman Civic Fellow has previously participated in eight SEND Trips, leading three of them.
“My first SEND Trip was at the Romero Center Ministries in Camden (New Jersey),” Hanrahan said. “My last ever SEND Trip was getting to apply what I learned during my first. It really was a full circle moment.”
For the majority of their stay, the students learned about the nation’s history. One day, they visited the home of Saint Oscar Romero, the former San Salvador archbishop and social justice advocate who was assassinated in 1980 while celebrating Mass.
“They preserved it just how he left it just to show how human he was,” recalled Hanrahan. “It really puts everything we learned into perspective. Every night, we’d facilitate a reflection to allow the students to unpack the heavy days we’d have.”
While much of the trip dealt with El Salvador’s past, the final two days focused on the country’s hopeful future. Students visited El Papaturro, a rural community located in Suchitoto, and stayed with families there.
“This community was founded after refugees started coming back after the civil war ended,” said Madden. “During the day, we’d come together and visit the school, medical clinic and see what kind of work people were doing. In the mornings and evenings, we would spend our days with the families.”
“It’s been around for 35 years,” Hanrahan added. “They’ve already built so much, but they couldn’t have been able to do so without the support of one another.”
Despite some language barriers, the students bonded with their host families and learned how community living sustains the small village.
“Two students, Deborah Ndayisaba ’27 and Kalina Kontsas ’28, said they learned how to make pupusas,” Hanrahan said. “During the last night in the community, everyone came out and shared a meal together. Friendship bracelets broke out and people started playing soccer. Everyone had an amazing night.”
