Mission Veteran
For 25 years and 48 trips, Richard has returned to West Virginia to lead and inspire students.
Faith in Action
He helps students encounter Christ through hands-on work and meaningful relationships.
Building Community
Each trip turns a group of individuals into a family rooted in faith and gratitude.
A Legacy of Faith in Action
25 Years in West Virginia: A Mission That Forms Students Through Service
For 25 years, the West Virginia mission trip has been a defining experience for Bishop Miege students. Each Spring Break, a group of students travels to Dunlow, West Virginia, stepping out of their comfort zones and into a community that challenges them to reflect and encounter Christ in new ways.
For Richard Sulzen, a St. Joseph parishioner who has spent 25 years leading and participating in these trips, the impact is simple: it’s about showing up, building relationships, and watching students grow in ways they never expected.
Richard first went in 2002 for his daughter’s freshman year, which was also Mary Perrini’s first trip to West Virginia. This spring marks his 48th trip because he has also brought students over the summer.
“Mary Perrini invited me because my daughter was on another major trip, and it was so fun teaching the kids how to do something with their hands,” he said. “At that time we were using hammers and nails, so it was fun just to get them to drive nails without bending them.”
Built on Relationships, Not Just Projects
What started as a small group has grown over the years, but the focus has always been on relationships over completion. The trip isn’t about checking off projects; it’s about learning to walk alongside others.
“Our time in West Virginia was an opportunity for Miege students to see how other people live besides ourselves,” Stella Cahalan, Class of 2023, said. “It was a week of selfless service, slumber parties, and more smiles than we can all count.”
Richard also recalls the humor and joy along the way.
“One of the girls that I drove that first year, just some of the things that she would say were just so funny,” he said. “I laughed so much that week that there were times that I had to tell her to stop because tears were running down my face I was laughing so much. I just really enjoyed being with the kids.”
Richard has worked to keep the intentional focus of the trip on community.
“The way Mary Perrini had them share their experiences and how she got them to open up and share was really very cool,” he said. “The group was small — about 15 kids. A lot of times when I am the lead chaperone, all I could think about is, ‘What would Mary Perrini do?’ I try to keep it authentic and original as much as possible.”
From Individuals to a Family
Students start the trip not knowing people as well, but through shared work and prayer, they quickly become something more. Days are spent repairing floors, building decks, and installing roofs. Nights are filled with reflections, laughter, and stories.
“At the start of the week, they’re 25 individuals,” Richard said. “By the end of the week, they’re so close that they’re a family now.”
For Michaela Wilcox, Class of 2025 and three-time mission trip attendee, the week offered her a chance to get to know new people.
“This trip provided me an opportunity to connect with classmates I would have never talked to otherwise and from all different grades,” she said. “It also gave me a different perspective to the way people live in different places and the impact I can have in their lives, whether it is something as simple as just having a conversation with them or building them a new deck. I still think back on my trips and the people I encountered.”
Nancy Miller, a longtime chaperone, has seen the same transformation.
“I am not sure Miege knows just how blessed we are to have Richard,” she said. “This is my tenth West Virginia trip with him, and I can honestly say he has changed my life. I have never met a more genuinely kind, patient, skilled person who walks in the faith. Richard is always mindful of the who, what, and why we serve. He is a beacon of God’s love and a true disciple of what it means to be a follower of Christ. His impact on the students and all he encounters not only through this trip, but everyday is immeasurable.”
The mission behind the trip
"Good Morning, Campers!"
“The one question that a lot of people will ask, ‘Why go so far when you can do the same thing right here at home?’ It takes three to four days for all of us to get out of our comfort zone, and then to truly live with and like the poor. That is when we truly become ourselves and not the person behind the masks that we wear at home, at school, at work, with our friends, but to truly be ourselves. This is when we start to see the students help take care of each other and bond with each other. They become one big happy family.” — Richard Sulzen, head chaperone of the mission trip
What Students Take Away With Them
While students may leave Dunlow after just a few days, the impact of the experience stays with them long after.
“The West Virginia mission trip opened my eyes to what the true meaning of service is: building relationships, stepping outside of yourself and your comfort zone, and allowing the Lord to use you for good,” Maria Nguyen, Class of 2023, said. “I came out of this mission trip closer to my peers and my faith and with a love of mission trips and service that has lasted throughout my college career.”
That shift also changes how students understand service itself.
“What we try to do with the students is not push the fact that it’s a home makeover,” Richard said. “We want them to make connections with the people, get to know them and visit with them, and hear their story and their faith life.”
For many students, that perspective stays with them long after the trip ends.
“I was able to get closer to myself, God, and others,” Josie Herrold, Class of 2024, said. “It truly taught me to be so grateful for what I have and to be empathetic to another level. The people that live there are so appreciative of what they have worked their entire lives for and are the nicest people I have ever met.”
A Legacy That Continues from 25 Years of Service
For Richard, the reason he continues to return year after year is simple: the students.
“I enjoy working with wood and building things,” he said. “I always wanted to be a carpenter. I love seeing the kids put stuff together and at the end of the week be pretty proud of what they’ve been able to accomplish in a week, because it has been quite amazing what gets accomplished in just the short four to five days.”
That impact continues to ripple outward.
“Richard shared with me that he continues these mission trips because there’s nothing else he’d rather be doing and no one else he’d rather be doing it with,” Hailey Hodge, Class of 2026, said. “I find that beautiful and inspiring. It’s really inspired me to continue service trips like this throughout my life. I also found out that Richard goes to the same parish as I do, so every time I see him at Mass I make sure to catch up with him. Richard is a kind and quiet soul whose love is shown not through words but acts of service. He cares deeply, and it really shows.”
Each year, a new group arrives as individuals. And each year, they leave as something more.
A family rooted in service.
A Tradition of Mission and Encounter
Richard Vogt, Class of 1985 and chaperone
“Richard is a great leader. He is very patient and passionate with kids. He goes out of his way to inspire others and help the community of Dunlow. He loves teaching the kids how to build things. He teaches the correct ways and explains why you do it that way. I keep coming back because Richard makes it so enjoyable!”
Michaela Wilcox, Class of 2025
“Richard is so full of love and joy. He has done this trip so many times and has so many amazing stories and experiences. All he wants to do is make sure that you have an amazing time while also helping the people around us and learning what they have gone through. Getting to learn from and spend time with Richard was one of my favorite parts of the trip.”
Hailey Hodge, Class of 2026
“Richard really taught me resilience and persistence. I had never used any tools or worked on anything manual-labor related before this trip, so while this was physically demanding for me, he was so kind and compassionate teaching me how to use even the basics like a hammer. Leaving the trip I felt like such a well-rounded person, and I am forever grateful for the time that I spent in group three with Richard as my leader.”
Patrick Charles, Class of 2026
“I was lucky enough to go on the West Virginia mission trip for two years my sophomore and junior year of high school. The trip doesn’t feel like a trip when you’re in West Virginia. It feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. I only have great things to say about it and the time that I got to spend with the community and Richard was also such a great time for me to realize many lessons that I still use in my day-to-day life.”
Celebrating Decades of Service
Rooted in Service, Growing in Faith
ONe Student's Transformation
“The week wasn’t just about physical work; it was about people. We met families who’ve been trapped in cycles of poverty for generations. For many of us, it was the first time truly seeing what life is like without the things we take for granted: consistent meals, a safe home, and a vibrant community in Bishop Miege.
Before this trip, I never thought much about how lucky I am. I took so many things for granted — my education, my friends, even just having heat and electricity. I also realized how often I limited myself socially, sticking to my routine and rarely connecting with people outside of my bubble.
This experience shattered that bubble. I met more people in a week than I had in months. I built friendships, laughed with strangers, and saw how service connects us in ways nothing else can.”
– Mateo Gajewski, West Virginia mission trip attendee, Class of 2026
Thank you to the Hart Yearbook student photographers (Josie Herrold, Stella Cahalan, Kayla Lueckenotto) for capturing so many of these moments!
Thank you, Richard!
A huge thank you to Richard Sulzen for his incredible dedication to the West Virginia mission trip. With 48 trips under his belt, his leadership, faith, and generosity have touched generations of Miege students.
We also want to thank all the chaperones who have been on a mission trip over the years. Their care and commitment help create memories and lessons that last long after students return home.
