October 2014 Newsletter

MERCY VOLUNTEER CORPS Transforming Lives, Perspectives, The World

Thank You

A special thank you to our support team in Hartford, CT

Feature

Alumna reflects on her time within the Mercy Community

Alumni

Read about recent alumni gatherings in the Midwest

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Marisa Rogers ‘00, ‘01 is a Mercy Volunteer Corps alumna who served in Guyana in 2000 and 2001. Marisa has since become a Mercy Associate and continued to pursue a life in Mercy.

Being a Mercy Presence

MVC Alumna, Marisa Rogers ‘00, ‘01, reflects on her connection to Mercy One of my many favorite memories of my years living in Guyana was sitting atop the orphanage’s minivan with the “middle boys” as they were called, watching the Courts Christmas Parade go by. We took it all in and did not miss seeing anything up there – we saw Dora, Barney and Santa pass! We laughed together that evening and I took in this moment of ringing in the Christmas season.

My history with Guyana, the Sisters of Mercy, their ministry sites and the beautiful Guyanese people began in August 2000, after our commissioning as the first Mercy volunteers placed internationally. I served as a social worker at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Georgetown and as a reading tutor at the St. John Bosco Orphanage just outside of town. As a Mercy Volunteer, a Mercy Associate and later as a Mercy staff member, I held many positions with the Sisters of Mercy ministries.

The lesson I learned best though while in Mercy Volunteer Corps in Guyana was how to simply BE with people. Whether this was being with my frail, adopted grandmother in the pew on Sunday, sitting with one of the boys while they struggled to read new words, being with a young person as they received their HIV diagnosis or sitting with a new mother as she learned to breastfeed her infant child, I discovered there was a richness in just being present for another human being. There is no need to know the right word or to tell a joke or to offer advice. It is simply BEING there in the moment with them.

After completing my Master’s degree, though I returned to Guyana to be closer to my now husband, there was something so relieving about returning to these people that truly know how to live in the moment. One Guyanese expression that I did not understand for a long time was when you would ask, “How are you doing?” and the Guyanese you were passing on the sidewalk would say “Ah tryin.’”

This was not an expression of surrender, as I once thought.

Rather this was a declaration of living in the moment and being present for whatever God may bring. Following another stint at Mercy Hospital, I had the opportunity to travel around the interior of Guyana providing cultural training and visiting Peace Corps volunteers in some of the most remote, beautiful corners of the World. It was while on the airstrip next to a colleague waiting for a plane to carry us back to Georgetown, that I was reminded what a gift MVC had

provided me. It was not about the latrines you helped build during your service or the number of books you had shipped in, but rather the human presence you were to that family or village or child. Realizing some of the challenges that would come with reentry, I still decided it was best for me to return to the States, so I could spend time with my father before Alzheimer’s took its hold. This Mercy charisma/ ability/skill of being present to those in need continues to be a part of who I am each day. It is definitely challenging to be

a calming, affirming, peaceful presence in this World, which is riddled with violence, negativity and consumption. Distractions in Washington, DC have come in the form of social media overload, political campaign slandering and overpowering Beltway speeds. Support in DC has come in the form of impromptu Mercy meetings, social justice campaigns and the calming speed of yogic meditation. May you too continue to BE a Mercy presence in this World and understand the declaration “Ah tryin.”

Photo from right to left: Marisa with the ‘middle boys’

New York volunteers enjoy the park

Staff on retreat at the St. Louis Arch

Mercy College graduates

Savannah volunteers speak about MVC

Arizona Volunteer enjoys the sunset Alumni gather in Cedar Rapids, IA

Hartford, CT: Thank You, Support Team!

Mercy Volunteer Corps Staff would like to extend a special thank you to our support team in Hartford, Connecticut. Moving to a new city always presents us with a new set of challenges and Hartford was no exception. Our support team has made this transition so wonderful for us and for our volunteers. We cannot imagine being in Hartford without you all! Thank you for all of your hard work, preparations, and continuous support of our volunteers!

Current Volunteer, Sonia Soto, speaks of her gratitude towards her support team: “When Sisters Judy Carey, RSM and Lorraine LaVigne, RSM showed the MVC community our new apartment, the three of us admired the beauty with wide eyes and silly grins. It Chicago: On October 19th, MVC alumni Amy Skapek ‘00, Robert was our home. We quickly walked around and took in the doilies, rocking chairs, Wotypka ‘08, and Sr. Kathleen McClelland, RSM gathered in Amy’s home in Chicago for dinner. The group enjoyed their evening together wooden furniture, well-stocked kitchen, and multiple welcome baskets in great and are hoping to have a larger gathering after the holidays! admiration. We had lamps everywhere, a Cedar Rapids: Staff member Angie Carlton ‘05 was able to meet up bookcase, an extra table in our back porch, with Sr. Anne Healy, RSM ‘98 during her recent trip to Cedar Rapids. and even our cable box/modem waiting Sr. Anne served in San Diego during her time with MVC. The two met for us to open. We immediately hugged the Sisters and thanked them for all they at Sacred Heart Convent in Cedar Rapids. and the Mercy community did for us. The Angie was also able to have dinner with Jennifer Reuter ‘07, ‘08 following week, we made sure to send thank and Beth Orth ‘95. Both Jennifer and Beth served in Philadelphia. you cards to everyone who contributed. We The group had a great time reminiscing about their experiences in like to joke that we gained a whole new set community and at their service sites (picture above). of aunties.”

MVC Alumni Updates

Alumni Announcements

Mike Barga ‘09 has continued to work with people who are homeless. He currently works at a non-profit in the DC area.

Alumni Events Baltimore, MD- November 18th, 7pm at Mercy Villa. Sr. Eileen Campbell, RSM and Marianne Comfort will offer an evening to talk about immigration.

Events are also being planned in the following cities. Dates coming soon!

Erie, PA- Ellen Davis ‘12 will host an event. Stay tuned for details.

Fredonia, NY- Ellen Davis ‘12 will host an event. Stay tuned for details.

Philadelphia, PA- Chris Davidson will host an event the first week in December.

New York City, NY- Chris Davidson will host an event the second week of December.

Please contact Angie for more information on these events!

Contact: Angie Carlton ‘05, angiecarlton@mercyvolunteers.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

November Events

Nov. 1-2 MVC Governance Meeting Nov. 11-14 CVN Conference Nov. 15-21 CLDP Meeting Nov. 27-28 Thanksgiving Holiday

Recruitment Visits

St. Olaf University Georgetown University St. Catherine’s University

Catholic University of America

Robert Morris University Loyola University, Baltimore College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University University of Maryland St. Scholastica University Manhattan College Carlow University Marywood University St. Joe’s University University of Scranton DeSales University LaSalle University Villanova University

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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