February 2015 Newsletter

MERCY VOLUNTEER CORPS Transforming Lives, Perspectives, The World

Volunteers

Volunteers attend Winter Retreat and MLK Service Days

Feature

International service spotlight by staff member, Keri Young

Alumni

Alumni and donors receive Lenten Challenge Calendar

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Volunteering Internationally

Staff Member, Keri Young, Reflects on Her International Volunteer Experience As I think back on the year I spent living and serving abroad in the Dominican Republic, I can easily say it was one of the most influential experiences of my life in that it truly shaped the trajectory of my adulthood. Much of what I value today stems from relationships made during that year and the social injustices I witnessed. Those interactions continue to mold who I am today, in both far-reaching and everyday ways. If you asked

me before beginning a year of service what I wanted to do with my life, my response would not have included working for Mercy Volunteer Corps, but I am so grateful to have been led where I am today.

Living amongst the Dominican people exposed me to a whole other way of life. It opened my eyes to the realities and complexities of poverty and attached faces to concepts I had previously only experienced

in a classroom setting. Being immersed in another culture afforded numerous opportunities for personal growth and selfdiscovery. I think it was through experiencing a different culture that I became, for the first time, really cognizant of my own culture – both what I appreciated and what I felt missed the mark. The Dominican lifestyle took me out of my bubble and showed me alternative ways of living. By serving abroad Photo above: Keri with students from the DR

my eyes were also opened to my own misperceptions and judgments that I didn’t know existed within me and taught me the experience of being foreign.

From living within another culture I became acutely aware of the interconnectedness of Earth’s peoples and learned to think within a global framework.

Life abroad also introduced me to a more interpersonal, community focused way of living.

The hospitality, generosity and sense of presence the people possessed encouraged me to look at how I exemplified those qualities in my own life. The relationships I made during that year were some of the most authentic I’ve ever had and the experience of intentional community set the tone to continue to seek authentic relationships in my life after the year was over.

My time as a volunteer abroad was certainly harder than I imagined it would be at the onset. I’d be kidding if I said there weren’t days where I would stop

and wonder what I had gotten myself into, but I’ve come to see the grace present in the harder times and I’m grateful for the experience just the way it was. I learned so much about my own strength through the challenging times and can say that I am a much more well-rounded and open-minded person because of the hardships.

considering before their year of service. Others are influenced in seemingly more subtle ways, through a shift in attitude and perception due to the faces and stories they now carry with them. It’s a gift to be able to walk with volunteers serving and see this growth within them.

I’m continually inspired by the intentionality and reflective

Through walking with Mercy volunteers serving in Guyana, I’ve realized how many of these transformative characteristics are inherit to faithbased service, no matter the ministry or geographic location.

Through walking with Mercy volunteers serving in Guyana, I’ve realized how many of these transformative characteristics are inherit to faith-based service, no matter the ministry or geographic location. Many volunteers end up in career fields they were not

spirit of our volunteers. One of the most life-giving aspects of working with Mercy is knowing that for many volunteers this is not just a one year commitment, but one that will ripple out and continue to guide them in years to come.

International Deadline Mercy Volunteer Corps’ final deadline for international applications is March 1, 2015 Applications are due by the end of this weekend, but don’t worry, there is still time to get yours in by the final deadline! International applicants will need to fill out an application, submit their transcript and resume, and have references fill out the reference form. Here are some simple steps to get started: 1. Head over to www.mercyvolunteers.org/apply to make sure your meet MVC’s basic qualifications.

2. Check out the International Placement tab for specific information on volunteering internationally.

3. Click on Guyana to read more about our service sites abroad.

4. Fill out a request for an application today! A staff member will then contact you to help you through the application process.

5. Remember, the final deadline is quickly approaching, so there is no time to waste!

For more information about MVC’s International Program, please email: KeriYoung@mercyvolunteers.org or visit www.mercyvolunteers.org

NYC Community on MLK Day

Detroit Volunteers ‘Yarning’

Erie Volunteers and Support Staff

MVC St. Michaels, AZ Community

Guyana Volunteers

MVC Hartford Community

Mercy Sisters:

National Catholic Sisters Week March 8-14, 2015

Mercy Volunteers In NYC

Alumni and Current Volunteers in NYC Have Social Gathering This past month a few of our alumni and current New York City Volunteers met for dinner and happy hour in the city! Angelica Perez ‘13 sent us photos of the evening. We always love seeing our alumni and volunteers sharing their MVC experience together!

Alumni Announcements

Detroit MVC Alumni Reflection On March 22 from 9-12am there will be a day of Reflection in Farmington Hills, MI at Mercy Center for all MVC Alumni. Please contact us if you would like to attend.

Alumni Mailing Mercy Volunteer Corps alumni and donors received a scratch-off surprise in the mail this past month! We sent out Lenten Challenge Calendars to help alumni reconnect with MVC’s core values of compassionate service, simplicity, community, spirituality, social justice, and Mercy. Resources and readings for the mailing can be found on our website under the alumni tab. We hope you all are enjoying your Lenten surprise!

Our National Volunteer Month Alumni Service Day Invitations are being mailed out this month. Check out our social media pages to find out if MVC is hosting a service event in a city near you!

Infomation will also be available on the alumni section of our website: www.mercyvolunteers.org/alumni

National Catholic Sisters Week is being celebrated March 8-14, 2015.

Mercy Volunteer Corps would not be possible without the Sisters of Mercy!

From our founding Executive Director, Sr. Ellen Cavanaugh, RSM, to most of our support staff in cities across the nation, we cannot thank these women enough for all of the love, support, and prayers they provide for Mercy Volunteer Corps!

During this week, we are asking our current and past volunteers to remember a Sister who impacted your time as a Mercy Volunteer. There will be an opportunity to share these memories on our Facebook page, but please also remember these women in your thoughts and prayers. The sisters continue to guide and support Mercy Volunteers during their yearlong service commitments. From inviting volunteers over for dinner to taking them to sporting events, Sisters of Mercy truly make our volunteers feel at home in their new cities!

As we celebrate throughout the week, both Mercy Volunteer Corps and the Sisters of Mercy will be posting stories and photographs on our blogs and social media to honor all the sisters have done in the United States and Internationally. Make sure to check out the Sisters of Mercy website to stay updated on the ongoing projects they are involved in as well as to find out how you can get involved.

If you would like to reach out to a Sister during this week but need help finding her contact information please email the MVC staff!

ContactUs@mercyvolunteers.org www.sistersofmercy.org

ABOUT MERCY VOLUNTEER CORPS

Mercy Volunteer Corps promotes social change by placing and supporting volunteers for one year of service with people who are poor and marginalized in the U.S. and South America. Mercy Volunteers work in education, healthcare, and social services while living together in a community and growing spiritually.

Mercy Volunteer Corps 1325 Sumneytown Pike Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437 Phone: 215.641.5535 ContactUs@mercyvolunteers.org www.mercyvolunteers.org www.mercyvolunteers.tumblr.com

March Events February 27-March 1

International Discernment Weekend

March 6-8

Mid-Year Retreat: Savannah and Baltimore Detroit, Erie, and Pittsburgh

March 8-13

National Catholic Sisters Week

March 13

MVC Board Meeting

March 23

Governance Teleconference

March 29

Palm Sunday

Recruitment Visits Mount Mercy University Manhattan College River University Mercyhurst University St. Joseph’s College, Maine

Extending the Circle

Extending the Circle is a unique program offered

by MVC that allows you to support a specific volunteer.

Check out the volunteers’ individual pages to sponsor them in their year of service!

Donate Now

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