Reflections on CFX 

A longstanding part of school life, the Companions of Xavier service program (known to all as CFX) gives students the opportunity to live out the Ignatian call to be "men for others." This summer, students and teachers have already journeyed to Mexico, Ecuador, and Tennessee, with another group venturing to Maryland next week. 

Director of Guidance Jean Sherman chaperoned one of Xavier’s trips to Tennessee. “I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that after 13 years at Xavier, I finally participated in my first CFX trip. It was an experience I will never forget,” she said. “An evening reflection asked us to think about where and how we see God in our lives. During our week in Tennessee we saw God in so many ways; in the generosity and hospitality that was shared with us by the local people, in the beautiful sunrises we saw in the early morning rides to the worksite, in the Habitat for Humanity crew who patiently taught us how to build porches, set roof trusses, and use a saw (among many other things). And I especially saw God in the team of students on our trip. There was no job too big or too small; their generosity of spirit moved me beyond words. I came home from our time in Tennessee filled with gratitude for the blessings I have in my life and for the gift of being part of the Xavier community. To steal a quote from one of our hosts, God is good. God is always good!”

Francis Corrado ’18 reflected this way on his time in Tennessee:

“As a three-sport student-athlete at Xavier who juggles sports and academics from September to June, I was hesitant when signing up for CFX Tennessee, as it meant losing a week of summer vacation. However, at the urging of several of my friends who had signed up for CFX Tennessee, I made one of the best decisions of my life and turned in my application to go on CFX Tennessee 2.

On July 10, I found myself with our group of 25 students and 5 faculty chaperones waiting for our flight out of LaGuardia. After catching up with friends I hadn’t seen since school ended, it was time to board the plane. Although I traded texts with several students who went on the first Tennessee trip earlier in the summer, I was nonetheless nervous and skeptical of what was ahead of me during the upcoming week as we disembarked and strolled through the Nashville airport. After a three-hour van ride (which included a Wal-Mart stop to load up on supplies), we arrived at the lodge that we would call home for the next week. We unpacked all of our belongings and, following a brief prayer session, it was time to get some rest for the week of work ahead of us that started the next morning at 5 a.m.

Throughout the week, we helped a group of contractors from Habitat for Humanity build two homes that would go to struggling families on a very manageable payment plan. In the area in which we were working, the average yearly income for a family of four was only around $22,000. As I learned about the community, I felt a greater appreciation for what I had back at home and was motivated to work harder at the worksite, despite being a less than skilled handyman. I greatly enjoyed my time at the worksite, working with the local contractors and developing bonds with classmates who I wasn’t necessarily close to at the beginning of the week. At the end of the week, it was a great feeling to step back and look how far we progressed with the work on the houses, knowing that soon enough two families would be able to have homes to call their own.

Even more important than our work on the homes was the people we encountered within the community. I have never met kinder, more hospitable people than I did on CFX Tennessee. Whether it be those who ran Habitat for Humanity or several local families who had us over at their own homes for barbecues, we were treated not like a group of outsiders from distant New York City, but more so like family. I think this is where I draw my biggest takeaway from my CFX experience. If the people we met in Tennessee were so incredibly nice and welcoming to complete strangers from another state, we can be that much more loving towards those in our own Xavier community. The people we encountered may not make a lot of money or have large houses or luxury cars, but they were genuinely happy through their faith in God and service to others. One night we were blessed to be invited to sing at a local Methodist Church, where we had a great time singing songs such as Amazing Grace. At this church, I met a man named Bill who was leading us in song. Bill told us he was 76 years old, but based on the enthusiasm with which he sung, you would have never guessed. It is Bill who gave me six simple words of advice that resonated throughout the whole week: “God is good. All the time.” These words have truly stuck with me and whether I am stressed or facing difficulties, I will be at peace hearing Bill in the back of my mind reminding me that no matter what is happening, God is good all the time. A major theme we built upon all week was seeing God in all things, and through meeting people like Bill I came to realize that I found it easier to see God at work in one of the poorest regions of Tennessee than back home. They may not have many valuable possessions, but the people of Tennessee like Bill did not seem to mind. A poor man who is close to God is happier than a rich man who lets his possessions keep him from seeing God as an active presence in his life.

After being brought closer to God and being reminded of how grateful we should be to live the comfortable lives that we live, I am truly thankful to have been able to partake in the great eye-opening experience that was CFX Tennessee. I also am thankful to have formed great bonds of friendship through our service with such a great group of classmates and our chaperones Mr. McCabe, Mrs. Sherman, Ms. DeWitt, Ms. Concannon, and Mrs. Raslowsky."