Newsletter June 2015

MERCY VOLUNTEER CORPS Transforming Lives, Perspectives, The World Transition

Mercy Volunteers Experience Transition Retreat

Feature

Celebration of Mercy Event Photos and Review

MVC Board

MVC Board of Directors Welcomes Two New Members

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Baltimore Volunteers at Celebration of Mercy

Detroit Volunteers perform at talent show

Arizona Volunteers at Celebration of Mercy

Mercy Volunteers at Transition Retreat

Philadelphia Volunteers at retreat

Volunteers host talent show at retreat

Celebration of Mercy

A Celebration of Mercy

Mercy Volunteers, Board of Directors, Alumni, and Supporters Gather This year’s Mercy Volunteers attended their Transition Retreat at Gwynedd Mercy University from June 11-14th. To kick-off this great weekend, MVC staff hosted an event to give our volunteers an opportunity to share their service experiences with the Mercy Community.

Three volunteers shared about their experience with MVC, their

time serving in communities across the United States, and how giving a year of service has affected who they are today.

Grace Yi, serving at Mercy Neighborhood Ministries in Philadelphia, PA, started off the evening by talking about her typical day working with five year olds in Northeast Philly. Grace spoke about the little moments

in her day from teaching a child to write her name for the first time to watching them play in a safe, enclosed playground away from street violence. She recalled how these moments have taught her to appreciate life in a more in-depth and meaningful way, and how grateful she is to have been blessed with the opportunity to serve.

Photo left to right: Emily, Lynesha, Jessie, Reaghan, Kate, and Kaitlyn

Rich Samartino, serving in Detroit, spoke about his time working with social justice movements. He told attendees about the struggle for access to clean water, the fight for ending racial discrimination, and the community of oppressed whom he has grown to love. With his IT skills, Rich has been able to give voice to these organizations by creating websites to help spread their message. Through his speech, attendees were not only able to witness the struggles of Detroit but also the hope of a united people.

The last Mercy Volunteer who spoke was Victoria Niedzielski serving on a Navajo Reservation in St. Michaels, Arizona. Victoria spoke about her time living in community while volunteering.

Victoria noted “We live in a world where everything we do has to have a clear and definite purpose, usually one that will

benefit us in the future. We are to go to high school and get good grades that will get us into a good college and pursue a responsible major that will get us a job right away so that we can make money to buy a car, a house, have a family, a dog, go on vacations, and eventually save enough to retire. To perform a year of service is to go against this current, and there is something sacred about living with other people who also chose not to glide down the river, but to push against its waters, trying to make a splash in places where other people may turn a blind eye.”

Victoria’s words gave insight into Mercy Volunteer Corps’ tenet of community, and allowed the audience the opportunity to hear about the every day experience of a Mercy Volunteer.

Mercy Volunteer Corps’ Celebration of Mercy was

an opportunity to build relationships between Mercy Volunteers and all those who have supported them behind the scenes throughout their year of service. Supporters from financial contributors who allow MVC to thrive in our mission to college campus ministers who helped these volunteers fill out their application, were able to witness the incredible transformation these individuals have undergone throughout their year of service.

The Mercy Volunteer Corps staff was elated to see so many familiar faces at this event. We continue to be in awe of how enthusiastic our supporters are in engaging with our mission. We are so grateful to all those who attended this event and hope that your time hearing stories from our volunteers allowed each of you to grow closer to Mercy Volunteer Corps.

Final Vow Experience MVC Alum ni in Irela nd

MVC Board of Directors

Mercy Volunteer Corps Board Welcomes New Members Mercy Volunteer Corps Board of Directors welcomed two new members, Rita Cutarelli and Patricia Nelson, at their meeting this past month. Rita currently resides in San Francisco, home of the new MVC service site. She is the Associate Principle of Mission and Campus Life at Mercy High School and recently concluded a term as the Mercy Secondary Education Conference Coordinator. Tricia has a long-standing relationship with Mercy Volunteer Corps, serving as a support person in Sacramento, a retreat facilitator, and an interviewer for potential volunteers. Tricia is a Mercy Associate and serves as the Program Director for Sacramento Loaves & Fishes, an MVC service site.

Both Tricia and Rita were able to join the Board of Directors for their meeting on June 12th at Gwynedd Mercy University in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania. MVC Executive Director, Marian Uba, welcomed these new members with a Board Orientation before the meeting.

The Board of Directors also spent time with Mercy Volunteers at Transition Retreat. During their time at Gwynedd Mercy University, the volunteers and Board members were able to enjoy dinner together on Thursday night and attend MVC’s Celebration of Mercy.

Have you seen our new website?

Mercy Volunteer Corps launched a new website this month! Our new, mobile compatible website has all of the information you need to stay connected with MVC. Head over to www.mercyvolunteers.org to see the new design!

Photo left to right (top row): Sr. Lisa Griffith, John Glenn, Marian Uba, Sr. Deborah Troillett, Rita Cutarelli Photo left to right (bottom row): Steve Knight, Trisha Nelson, John Farley

Mercy Volunteer Corps would like to extend a special congratulations to two of our alumni: Sister Jennifer Wilson and Sister Cathy Manderfield.

Jenny and Cathy recently participated in the Final Vow Experience for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. The “Come Home to Catherine” program was held at Mercy International Centre in Dublin, Ireland, and was offered to Sisters of Mercy who are preparing for their perpetual profession.

Both Cathy and Jenny are preparing to take their final vows with the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas this year. As Sisters of Mercy, they will continue to live out Catherine McAuley’s mission. Sister Jennifer Wilson wrote in MercyNow “The spirit of Catherine was present among us as we shared our lives with each other. All of us were enriched by our time spent in Catherine’s house. We return to our lives renewed and ready to continue to live out the legacy Catherine left us.”

Mercy Volunteer Corps wishes both Jenny and Cathy happiness as they start their new journey with the Sisters of Mercy. We will continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers!

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

June Events July 3

Offices closed for Independence Day

July 20

Finance Committee Teleconference *Recruitment Event: Cincinnati

July 31

Cross Cultural Program begins *Join us at Hamilton County Public Library on Vine Street in Cincinnati to hear more about community service.

Recruitment Planning Mercy Volunteer Corps has started to plan our recruitment visits for the 2015-2016 recruitment cycle. If you are interested in having an MVC staff member speak at your college, university, high school, or community event please contact our Recruitment Coordinator Chris Davidson to plan a visit.

ChrisDavidson@mercyvolunteers.org

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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