Mission@theheart 2026

Forty students at Immaculate Heart Academy gathered on the weekend of July 17-19, 2026, to put their Faith into action by serving their community and ministering to people in need. The theme of this year’s mission was an inspiring quote from St. Teresa of Calcutta, “Do small things with great love.” 

The main goal of Mission@theheart is to expose students to different vulnerable populations in the hope of encouraging students to use their gifts in service to others. The home base for this year’s flagship IHA service event was at the Archdiocesan Youth Retreat Center in Kearny, New Jersey, but students traveled to different parts of New Jersey and New York to put their mission trip into action. 

According to Ms. Emily Ash ‘19, director of campus ministry, “Mission@theheart is truly one of the most profound experiences we get to witness students participate in. The weekend provides a beautiful opportunity to see firsthand the love in the eyes of our students when they give their all in service to others. They continuously learn and live out the truth that anything done with love leaves a profound impact on others and on themselves. Every action, big and small, has the potential to show God’s presence in this world in the lives of others, and often, students find His presence through encountering His people.”

On the first night of this three-day trip, students focused on furthering their relationship with God through a prayer service and Eucharistic Adoration, followed by group meetings and bonding activities. Students also began their work of helping others by creating decorations for Several Sources Shelter, a non-profit that provides free housing and support services to women facing unplanned pregnancies and experiencing homelessness.

On Saturday, our young women traveled to visit Several Sources Shelter to learn about its mission and create cards and bracelets for its residents. Other students visited Villa Marie Claire, a residential hospice in Bergen County, to help prepare materials for a grief counseling summer camp the hospice provides for children and teens.

Also on Saturday, students worked on Blessing Bags for St. Joseph’s Church Street Outreach. The bags, filled with toiletries, personalized notes, and socks, will be given out in New York City to individuals the church encounters. Later in the evening, the students also prepared items for a Midnight Run in New York City on Sunday. This outreach was one of many Midnight Runs IHA students will participate in this year, bringing food, clothes, and companionship to individuals experiencing homelessness. 

The weekend ended with a Mass attended by students and their families, as well as reflection time for key takeaways from this year’s Mission Trip. We are truly Blessed for all of the students who followed God’s call to serve others on this Mission Trip and thankful to Ms. Emily Ash ’19 and our many teachers and staff who chaperoned the trip, including Ms. Jessica Giglio, Mr. Gregory McDonald, Mrs. Amy Baskin, Mrs. Kerri Sheehan, Ms. Isabella DeVito, Ms. Jillian Hynes, and Mr. Michael Hamlett.

Click here to view more photos from this year’s Mission@theheart.