St Francis Inn Ministries

This summer 332 Notre Dame students, from incoming first year students to seniors, are participating in one of the institute’s summer programs. We’re thrilled to highlight students in our two signature programs, NDBridge and Summer Fellowships, over the coming weeks!

Rising sophomores in NDBridge—like finance major Jesse Ayissi—spend their 8-week immersive experience thinking hard about injustice, working with communities around the world that face it, and considering their responsibility to the common good while at Notre Dame and beyond.

Jesse is working with St. Francis Inn, a Franciscan soup kitchen and social service center serving the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. In this photo, he is bussing tables during their Sunday morning shift. He writes, “While bussing, I try to get myself familiar with the guests of the St. Francis Inn. This includes sparking up conversation on the most trivial of topics. I learned how to be efficient while also having fun, and it has become one of my favorite jobs while at St. Francis.”

Join us in celebrating the great work Jesse is doing in Philly!

A joyful group of visiting volunteers! Grateful for all those who travel to the Inn to help us serve our guests 🍰🥣🍽️