New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip

Contributed by Jessica Spencer Moss, Executive Director, Interfaith Youth Alliance June 23-28, 2025, nine high school students from Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Zoroastrian, and Latter-day Saint traditions set out together for an immersive interfaith experience across New Mexico (The Land of Enchantment). What unfolded was more than just a trip—it was a journey of learning, connection, …

Prayer Beads, Pueblos, and Peacemaking: Interfaith Immersion in the Land of Enchantment Read More »

Contributed by Deacon Steve Herrera, Notre Dame San Jose High School Four Shinnyo-en Buddhists, one Zoroastrian, and five Catholics embarked on an interfaith journey from June 24 to 29, 2024, in New Mexico, sponsored by Shinnyo-en Foundation in partnership with Notre Dame San Jose High School, California. We visited various places of worship and met …

Ten Interfaith Teens Explore New Mexico Spirituality Read More »

In June 2023, the New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip brought together ten youth from the San Francisco Bay Area, Orange County, Boston and New York for a unique exploration of spirituality and cultural exchange. Hosted in Santa Fe this immersive experience aimed to foster understanding through visits to various places of worship and engaging dialogues …

Exploring Spirituality on the New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip 2023 Read More »

Photos from New Mexico, courtesy of Deacon Steve Herrera, Co-director of the Teen Interfaith Leadership Council of Santa Clara County We are proud to announce the release of the video that Steve Herrera produced this summer after hours of intensive viewing, clipping, and editing the interviews and footages, and inserting and animating photos collected from …

Hope for the Future: Voices of the Decade – the New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip Read More »

The following article was contributed by Diane Fisher, Community Relations Council Director of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley and Co-Director of the Teen Interfaith Leadership Council (TILC) of Santa Clara County. It has also been published at the Summer 2017 issue of JValley Magazine. Three Junior Youth Association (JRYA) members from the Bay Area …

Youth Experience the New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip Read More »

Contributed by Deacon Steve Herrera, the Diocese of San Jose Diane Fisher of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley and Deacon Steve Herrera from the Diocese of San Jose, both Co-directors of the Teen Interfaith Leadership Council of Santa Clara County, took eight interfaith teenagers on an immersion experience to Santa Fe, New Mexico from …

2016 New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip: An Intricate “Blend” of Cultural, Social and Religious Experiences Read More »

The New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip is a summer opportunity for Santa Clara County teens of various faiths and Shinnyo-en youth from across the country to visit houses of worship, learn from each other while engaging in interfaith dialogue, and serve local communities. Teens are led by Co-directors, Deacon Steve Herrera and Diane Fisher, of …

New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip: Finding Oneness Read More »