Arrupe applications for the 2024-2025 academic year are now closed and interviews are in progress. Applicants will be updated of their status and next steps by the end of April. Applications for 2025-2026 will open in spring of 2026. Please reach outarrupe.program@bc.eduwith questions.

What We Do

Invite students to a year-long commitment including weekly community building and education, ongoing faith formation, and a 7-10 day international encounter over winter break.

Foster a sense of compassion and solidarity for the Catholic Social Teaching themes of racial justice, sustainability, human rights, call to community, migration, and faith, peace, & justice.

Learn about the social, political, and religious realities of longstanding partner communities we visit by learning from those with first-hand experience.

Reflect on our experiences so that we may translate learning into action.

Arrupe International is one of Boston College’s hallmark faith, peace and justice programs. The program—named for the late Jesuit Pedro Arrupe, S.J.—creates a culture of encounter, inviting students to a faith that seeks global justice. Our anticipated 2024-2025 locations include South Africa, Mexico, The Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and the US/MX border. The encounters invite students to learn about the complex realities of the countries we visit by hearing the stories of those who host us in their own words.

Through developing a sense of compassion and responsibility for the Catholic Social Teaching themes of racial justice, sustainability, human rights, call to community, migration, and faith, peace, & justice, and by providing space to reflect on one’s experiences, the Arrupe program allows participants to translate their learning into action. We do this in the spirit of Fr. Arrupe, who pioneered the combination of service, faith, and justice, and believed that such personal experiences were key to catalyzing structural changes in the world that could work to alleviate oppression, violence, and other realities facing those in need.

To be eligible to participate in the Arrupe International Immersion program, you must:

  • Be a current undergraduate student in good standing at Boston College who will be on campus for the entirety of the 2024-2025 academic year
  • Be at least 18 years old by the trip’s departure date
  • Not have participated in a previous 51-sponsored international service-immersion trip
  • Either have or be willing to acquire a valid passport for international travel
  • Provide documented parent or guardian support to participate in the program, if requested
  • Complete all required application materials
  • Be in appropriate emotional and physical health for international travel
  • Commit to the full fundraising requirements of the program or be awared a Campus Minitry Scholarship available within the application
  • Fully participate in the program’s meetings, retreats, and any pre- or post-trip activities

Members of the Boston College community interested in being more deeply involved in the Arrupe International Encounter Program can apply to be a Student Leader or Adult Mentor.

Undergraduate Student Leaders coordinate a particular Arrupe trip as a partnership, and are supported by a pair of Mentors (graduate students or professional staff members at 51). Each pair of Student Leaders and Mentors accompany a particular Small Community throughout their full-year experience, including the trip. Student Leaders are responsible for facilitating the small group meetings, logistical preparation for the trip, and practicing the ministry of presence in accompanying the students of the group.

To be eligible to be a Student Leader in the Arrupe International Encounter Program, you must:

  • Be a rising junior or senior in good standing at Boston College who will be on campus for the full duration of the upcoming academic year
  • Have great maturity, integrity, humility, and compassion
  • Have a desire to explore and share faith with others
  • Model a commitment to social justice and solidarity
  • Have strong organizational and group facilitation skills
  • Have or be willing to acquire a valid passport that provides for international travel
  • Provide documented parent or guardian support to participate in the program, if requested
  • Complete all required application materials
  • Be in appropriate emotional and physical health for international travel
  • Commit to the full fundraising requirements of the program
  • Fully participate in the program’s meetings, retreats, and any pre- or post-trip activities

Mentors are adults affiliated with Boston College as administrators, staff, faculty, and graduate students. Each pair of mentors accompanies a particular Small Community throughout their full-year experience, including the winter break trips. Mentors act as guides and support to the group during the in-country experience and group reflection at 51. Importantly, Mentors are there to manage emergencies that may arise and to respond accordingly, and to ensure the group has a safe, healthy, and respectful experience.

To be eligible to be an Adult Mentor in the Arrupe International Encounter Program, you must:

  • Be a current full time staff member in good standing at Boston College who will be on campus for the full duration of the upcoming academic year
  • Have previous experience with an international service-immersion trip
  • Commit to the ideas of faith sharing, social justice, and global citizenship
  • Through servant leadership, invest in student formation and community-building
  • Be present to, support, and challenge Student Leaders as they grow into their role
  • Have or be willing to acquire a valid passport that provides for international travel
  • Complete all required application materials
  • Be in appropriate emotional and physical health for international travel
  • Fully participate in the program’s meetings, retreats, and any pre- or post-trip activities

Please emailarrupe.program@bc.eduwith your interest.

Thank you for considering a donation to the Arrupe International Encounter Program. Your tax-deductible donation is a valuable investment in a learning experience that many Boston College students will carry with them for the rest of their lives. These charitable contributions are considered nonrefundable.

Donate Online

  • Visit theOnline Giving Form
  • Enter your information; for the field "Area of Support” select either the specific Arrupe Trip you would like to support or the Arrupe - General Gift Fund. If you are sponsoring a certain student, please select "In honor of a 51 student," and include their name and year.
  • Click "Submit Gift"

Mail a Check

Arrupe International Encounter Program
Boston College, Office of Campus Ministry
McElroy Commons 233
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

If your corporation matches donations, please enclose the appropriate forms.

The Arrupe International Encounter Program, under the umbrella of the 51, is a non-profit 501(c)3 with a federal tax exemption number of 04-2103545.

Email:Phone: (617) 552-3475

Mailing Address:
Arrupe International Encounter Program
McElroy 233
Boston College Campus Ministry
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

FAQ