Lighting the Way: St. John’s College Rides in Solidarity for Catholic Education

On October 1, 2025, the St. John’s College (SJC) community in Belize came together in an inspiring display of faith, unity, and service through the Wildcat Lighthouse Movement—a social ride and walk dedicated to raising funds for Catholic Primary Schools across Belize.

The event marked the culmination of an extraordinary journey by Fr. Matthew Ruhl, SJ, who, since July 15th, had been cycling across the United States from Portland, Maine, to the Santa Monica Pier in California. His 12-week, cross-country mission to support Catholic education inspired the SJC community to take action locally, joining him in spirit by organizing a parallel ride and walk that made a tangible impact in Belize.

Starting at the historic Baron Bliss Lighthouse and concluding at the SJC Campus, participants of all ages, students, parents, faculty, alumni, and community partners, walked and rode together in solidarity. The event was family-friendly and non-competitive, emphasizing community spirit, generosity, and the Ignatian ideal of being “men and women for and with others.”

At the campus, a special ceremony blessed the participants and recognized sponsors whose contributions helped make the event possible. Simultaneously, SJC featured live coverage of Fr. Ruhl’s arrival at the Santa Monica Pier, symbolically linking both ends of the continent through one shared Jesuit mission.

Funds raised from the Wildcat Lighthouse Movement will directly support the educational needs of students in Catholic Primary Schools throughout Belize providing essential resources and fostering opportunities for a brighter future.

Through this event, St. John’s College once again demonstrated its deep commitment to community engagement, faith in action, and the transformative power of Jesuit education. The Wildcat Lighthouse Movement illuminated not only the Belizean coast but also the enduring light of solidarity and hope that guides all Jesuit institutions around the world.