Mercy Volunteer Corps Newsletter: October 2015

MERCY VOLUNTEER CORPS Transforming Lives, Perspectives, The World

Thank You

Read about MVC’s Celebration in San Francisco, CA

Feature

Mercy Volunteer reflects on service in Philadelphia

Alumni

MVC to host alumni events in Baltimore and Sacramento

Para Español pulsa aquí www.mercyvolunteers.org contactus@mercyvolunteers.org Visit our Blog

#mercyvolunteers

Mercy Volunteer Bianca and Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz

Detroit Volunteers with Sr. Mary Ellen Howard

Bible Study at Faithful Fools in San Francisco

Mercy Volunteer Lauren with a student at recess

Pittsburgh Community explores the city Mercy Volunteers and Executive Director Marian Uba Philadelphia Volunteers in Ocean City, NJ

Mercy Volunteers

Undoing Knots

Mercy Volunteer Katherine Herold Serves with Project Home In anticipation of Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia last month, a unique work of art was commissioned in the grotto next to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. This public art installation, “Mary, Undoer of Knots,” consisted of thousands of strips of cloth on which people, including many who were homeless, had written their struggles and prayers, their hopes and dreams. Through my work at Project HOME, an organization dedicated to helping Philadelphia’s homeless population and a sponsor of “Mary, Undoer of Knots,” I was able to visit the grotto several

times. While there I assisted people who came from all over the country and the world to write down their struggles in the hopes that their burdens would be eased.

Before I started at my service site in August, I had expectations of helping to undo the knots of hunger and homelessness. I had imagined how I would help the people living on the streets and use Project HOME’s resources to improve their lives. Two months into my yearlong commitment I find myself reevaluating the way in which I measure my impact. As I learn more about the realities of life on the streets and the challenges

associated with Philadelphia’s shelter system and subsidized housing programs, I try to focus on the small interactions which, while not necessarily life-changing, are what get me through the day. For most of the people I see, change will not be immediate. It may take months or years for some of them to get off the streets. While the big problems might still be knotted, I will continue to work toward undoing the ones I can. I have come to see that, whether it’s a bottle of water, a ride to a shelter, or just a friendly conversation, these small gestures help make the road out of homelessness a little easier.

Photo: Philadelphia Community in front of Love Statue

Recruitment Webinar: Novem be r 10 th

Mercy Volunteer Corps will host a recruitment webinar on November 10th.

Staff member Chris Davidson will be in New York City with the volunteers to talk to them about their year of service and answer any questions viewers may have about life as a volunteer or the application process. For more information please visit: www.mercyvolunteers.org/webinar.

Thank You San Francisco!

MVC hosted a Celebration of Mercy in Burlingame, CA Mercy Volunteer Corps hosted our second Celebration of Mercy just outside of San Francisco in Burlingame, CA. Those in attendence included Mercy Volunteers, MVC alumni, Mercy Volunteer Corps staff, Mercy Associates, Sisters of Mercy, representatives of local Mercy ministries, and those interested in serving with MVC. We would like to extend a special thank you to all those who helped make this night and our renewed presence in San Francisco possible.

Most especially, we thank Sr. Judy Carle, RSM for her continued commitment to Mercy Volunteer Corps and for welcoming us into her home! Sr. Judy you continue to be a blessing to MVC - thank you!

Alumni Events: Baltimore and Sacramento Mercy Volunteer Corps will be hosting alumni events in Baltimore and Sacramento this fall! MVC will host our first event in collaboration with the Institute Justice Team (IJT) in Baltimore, MD. The event will be held on Tuesday, November 3rd at 7pm at Mercy Villa in Baltimore.

Marianne Comfort, a member of the IJT, will be joining us to facilitate a conversation on Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ recent encyclical. Sisters of Mercy and Mercy Associates are welcome to join this event! For more information please contact Marie Schultz Stebel at 937.723.7496 or marieschultz@mercyvolunteers.org.

Mercy Volunteer Corps will also host a dinner in Sacramento, California on Monday, November 9th. For more information or to RSVP to this event please contact Angie Carlton at 402.399.2438 or angiecarlton@mercyvolunteers.org.

Christmas Photos

Social M e dia R eque st The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Communications Team have requested Christmas photos! The team is looking for photos of your favorite Christmas memories. Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Associates, Companions of Mercy, Mercy Volunteers, Mercy Volunteer Corps Alumni, and all those in the greater Mercy community are invited to participate. The photos will be used to make a collage depicting another image to use on the Sisters of Mercy’s social media accounts during December to kick off The Year of Mercy. If you are interested in particpating please email your holiday photos to Jeremy Dickey at socialmedia@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

November Events November 3rd

Alumni Event in Baltimore

November 9th

Alumni Event in Sacramento

November 10th

Recruitment Webinar

November 26-27th

Thanksgiving holiday: offices closed

Recruitment Planning November 3rd: Georgetown University Catholic University November 4th: College of St. Ben’s/St. Johns November 10th: Carlow University *Recruitment Webinar* November 11th: Fairfield University Fordham University November 12th: Mercyhurst University Gannon University Penn State Behrend November 16th: Villanova University November 17th: St. Joseph’s University University of Scranton November 19th: LaSalle 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 #mercyvolunteers