About the Service Mission
Catholic High school students from Bishop Dunne, Bishop Lynch, Cistercian Preparatory, St. John Paul II, and Ursuline spend a week in the Diocese of San Isidro on a mission of solidarity and evangelization. They work with parishioners on construction projects while also visiting local people to share the joy of the Gospel. Through this experience, students grow spiritually through faith formation, peer relationships, and celebration of the sacraments with the local community.
Our mission location in 2026 is in Santa Maria de Dota. Main projects include building sidewalks and fences in the communities of San Martin and San Rafael in Copey de Dota, as well as assisting the office of pastoral social care by bringing food baskets to families and visiting nursing homes.
The second collection on the first week of January helps to support these missions. Support the projects in our sister Diocese of San Isidro — make a donation today and make a lasting impact in the lives of our brothers and sisters.
Special Project - Templo San Rafael in Copey de Dota
Copey de Dota, a small agricultural community in the mountains of Costa Rica, needs your help to rebuild their church after a fire.
After more than 8 years of dedicated work, this community has already raised more than half on their own, but they cannot complete the project alone.
In 2017, a fire destroyed the town’s Catholic church, a space that has been at the spiritual and cultural heart of Copey de Dota. For generations, this church was the place where baptisms, weddings, Masses, and community celebrations were held. Its loss has been deeply felt, but the people of Copey remain steadfast in their hope of rebuilding and have spent more than 8 years working to raise the funds necessary for construction.
The community has already raised more than 50% of the projected cost, but it has taken nearly a decade to do so alone. With your generous support, Copey de Dota can restore its church – a house of prayer and faith that also serves as a gathering place where values, traditions, and community spirit continue to thrive. You are invited to be part of rebuilding more than a church; please help the community of Copey rebuild the heart of its community.
Chapel Construction
The construction will include:
1. Chapel for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
2. Sacristy
3. Entry atriums
4. A bell tower – reinforced block structure with traditional style
5. Coffered ceilings
6. Large windows and architectural details that reflect the beauty of the original church
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1)
Target
Our target is to raise $150,000 to complete the church construction. To date, we have financed what has been done through events and raffles. We trust in divine providence to complete the project.
Help our sister Diocese of San Isidro raise the remaining 50% of funds to rebuild the heart of Copey de Dota – make a donation today and make a lasting impact in the lives of our brothers and sisters.
The community of Copey de Dota sincerely thanks all supporters and invites everyone to join together in rebuilding their beloved church.