Inside JVC

Community Solutions

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:20:00 +0000

Walking away from this year, the JV motto “ruined for life” will ring all-too-true. The smells, sounds and people of Skid Row, who I walk by daily, hold an entirely new meaning from when I started working with the Campaign in August 2012. They have humbled me. I have a profound respect for all they have lived through. I often find myself saying, “I could never say ‘I understand’ what you’ve been through or what that feels like, but I hear you and will do everything I can to help you reach stability in your life.” - Caitlin DiMaina

Caitlin DiMaina, a JV in Los Angeles, and Bryan Woll, a JV in Brooklyn, work for Community Solutions, an organization devoted to strengthening communities and ending homelessness. The two of them shared their reflections on the organization's blog, found here.

If I were ever to do political or policy work down the road in my career, I wanted to be able to say that I had formed real relationships with families that these programs affected - that I knew their names, learned their stories, sat on their couches, walked their streets. In this way, and many more, the Brownsville community has given more to me than I could ever hope to give back to it. Brownsville’s families, and the community as a whole, have taught me what hope looks like when it’s lived out on the ground. Through the struggles of poverty, violence and disinterest from the outside, Brownsville has persevered, building a reservoir of strength and resilience, which will be the foundation for the brighter future that Community Solutions and the Brownsville Partnership are working toward in the neighborhood. - Bryan Woll

A Message from JVC Board Chair Lisa Grattan

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Fri, 03 May 2013 21:48:00 +0000

It is my great pleasure and honor to announce, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, that Mary Claire Ryan began as President of JVC on May 1, 2013.

Mary Claire is an inspiring and visionary leader who has demonstrated, throughout her executive career, superior social entrepreneurship, fund raising, and leadership skills. Mary Claire’s professional accomplishments include the establishment, in 1993, of the Cornelia Connelly Center, a pioneering middle school for girls on the Lower East Side of New York, one of the earliest replications of the Nativity model. The school is sponsored by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and Mary Claire was a member of the Society for nearly 20 years. She served as the executive director of the school until 2005.

Mary Claire has also served as the director of mission assessment for the NativityMiguel Network of Schools, the executive director of the Bronx Charter School for Excellence, and most recently as the executive director of the NativityMiguel Network of Schools. Mary Claire has extensive experience working with boards both as a leader and board member. Her past board service includes both New York Nativity and Cristo Rey New York High School. She has a B.S. in Business Administration from Misericordia University and a M.A. in Theological Studies from Weston Jesuit School of Theology, now Boston College, where she was the recipient of the Pedro Arrupe Medal for Excellence in Ministry.

Mary Claire comments that “I’ve been familiar with JVC for a long time since the volunteers often serve in the middle schools I’ve been aligned with for 20 years. With my religious background, the Jesuit tradition has always been a treasure to me and I feel great excitement about this opportunity. Like so many others, I believe it is not too much to hope that the Church will once again discover its real beauty in service and care for the poor. What a privilege to be chosen to lead JVC at this time.”

We are, as always, extremely thankful for your support of JVC. Your support is essential to the JVC mission, begun in 1956, of serving poor and marginalized populations and forever changing the lives of the young volunteers who commit themselves to service at JVC’s placements in the United States and around the world.

Thank you.

Lisa A. Grattan
Chair, JVC Board of Directors

Contact information for Mary Claire Ryan
mcryan@jesuitvolunteers.org
917-295-1212

JV EcoHeroes

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:10:00 +0000

Left to Right: Back row- JVs Rachel Kohl, Julia Tully, Cassie Estassi, and Karen Prorok. Front row- JVC Staff Margaret Deneen and Brian Ahern

On Sunday at the annual Earth Day Festival in Houston, JVs and JVC staff decided to go “green” and visit the Eco-Heroes booth, where, along with taking pictures as eco-friendly superheroes, visitors could learn about how to live a more sustainable life in the city. The annual festival was a huge hit with thousands of people enjoying the beautiful weather and live entertainment, where hundreds of grassroots organizations filled the park, looking to spread awareness of the ways that Houstonians can live in a way that is healthy for themselves and healthy for the earth. The JVs plan to use their eco-superpowers to make their community a greener place.

JVC International in Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 06:56:00 +0000

Many applicants to JVC's International Program recently participated in Discernment Weekends around the country. As part of this process, they had the opportunity to see images of the places and people in our international placements. This video highlights the experiences of international volunteers.

Become a JV - Applications Due March 12

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:16:00 +0000

Are you interested in being a Jesuit Volunteer? Spend a year committed to the values of social justice, spirituality, simple living, and social justice!

Do you know anyone who would be a good fit for JVC? Spread the word!

Applications are due March 12th. Apply at jesuitvolunteers.org/apply.

"How am I called to restore dignity today?"

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:30:00 +0000

As the Church goes through a time of transition, Former Jesuit Volunteer Jocelyn Sideco (Atlanta '99) wrote an open letter to the leadership of the Church, published last week in the National Catholic Reporter. She says, "The burdens of this life continue to weigh down the spirits of the faithful, and we need you all to endure more peace so as to promote healing and truth. ...

"Serve God in the least of these: Comfort the poor and offer them the dignity of being first among equals. Ask daily, 'How am I called to restore dignity today?' Focus not on your own concerns of daily needs, but on the needs of those that society tends to forget and be disgusted by. Give generously to those on the margins, spend time in their communities, and work toward elevating their profile as children of God. If you, yourself, cannot do this, encourage the ones who can and make straight their paths."

Read her letter here: An open letter to the princes of the church.

Forming a Jesuit Volunteer

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 20:24:00 +0000

JVC's Winter 2013 Magazine focuses on the formation component of JVC. As Acting President Kathleen Haser writes, "As the JVs live in the JVC values - spirituality, simple living, community, and social justice - the prayer, discussion, and learning around those values begin to form a new way of responding to the Gospel, to one another, to the world. As you read about the JVC formation program in this issue, you will see that we put considerable resources into creating many different formation opportunities. ...

"Formation leads to transformation, and that is the point. It is JVC's goal to form men and women for a lifetime of living a faith that does justice. We aim to be true to our vision statement: Transformed people transform the world."

See photos from the 2012 Additional Year JVs, read more about how formation leads to transformation, and learn what our JVs are doing in Brooklyn and Milwaukee. Read the Winter 2013 Magazine here (PDF).

View past magazines here.

Why do JVC? Application Deadline Jan. 16!

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:09:00 +0000

The first application deadline for JVC is January 16th, just two days from now. This is the Round 1 deadline for the domestic program and the only deadline for the international program. The Round 2 domestic deadline is March 12th. JVC offers a wonderful and challenging opportunity to live a life devoted to service and accompaniment with people who are poor and marginalized.

For more information and to complete an application, go to http://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/apply.

Amy Kangas, a current Jesuit Volunteer in St. Louis, MO, reflects on her decision to do JVC and her experience so far:

If I had a quarter for every time I was asked during my senior year what I was doing after graduation, I’d have a nice supplement to my $100-a-month stipend. This question didn’t provoke as much anxiety as it could have, since I had been interested in JVC for quite awhile. I felt pretty lucky in having at least the next year of my life figured out, as well as having a suitable answer to this question.

However, I have discovered that the questions haven’t stopped. Whenever my community and I are introduced to new people, whether they are familiar with JVC or not, I’m now faced with a new question: “Why did you do this?” Why did I leave my home, friends, and family to move to a new city thousands of miles away to live with strangers and volunteer full time? Sounds pretty crazy, right?

Before I arrived in St. Louis to begin my JV year, I would answer this question by explaining that I was interested in the four values of JVC and the work experience it would give me. Now, almost five months later, these answers are still true, but do not fully answer the question of why I committed myself to a year of service. I’m in this program because social justice is now more than a discussion topic in my classes at a Jesuit university – it’s something that I’m working towards each day. I’m in this program because it has given me an increased awareness of the realities of our world, an awareness that I was not able to fully gain in my suburban hometown and in the bubble of college life. I’m in this program because it has enabled me to meet and learn from some truly inspirational people, such as my clients, coworkers, and five community-mates. I’m in this program because it has given me the opportunity to reflect and challenge myself to live and grow into the values of simple living, spirituality, community, and social justice in ways that I haven’t been able to before.

Now, I’m being faced with a new and terrifying question: what am I doing after my JV year is over? I definitely do not have the answer to this quite yet, but I do know that my experiences as a JV will shape and influence whatever I do decide to do next.

Are you ready to make the commitment?

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 20:21:00 +0000

Are you ready to make the commitment to a year of working for social justice?

Wednesday, January 16 is the first deadline for domestic applications and the only deadline for international. If you're thinking about applying, don't delay. Time is running out. If you know someone who you think would be a great JV, help us spread the word about the January 16 deadline.

If you miss the January deadline, there is a second domestic deadline in March, but there will be no more opportunities to apply for the international program.

Visit www.jesuitvolunteers.org/apply to access the online application.

2012 Year in Review Slideshow

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 20:07:00 +0000

As we close out 2012, take a look back over the past 12 months. Here are some photo highlights from this year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from JVC.

Season of Giving

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:42:00 +0000

Merry Christmas from the Jesuit Volunteer Corps! For many of us, Christmas is a time of joy shared with friends and family. For others, especially those whom Jesuit Volunteers accompany in their day-to-day lives, it is a time when struggles to meet daily needs are heightened.

With this season of giving, we ask that you consider making a donation to JVC and help support our work advocating for social justice and providing service to those with the greatest need. This year the 323 JVs are teaching children, sheltering the homeless and caring for the sick in over 300 organizations across the country and around the world. None of this could be done without the continued support of our valued donors.

Please give generously so that they may reach more people who suffer from hunger, poverty, homelessness, addiction, and loneliness, helping this season become one of true peace. Make a secure donation to the Jesuit Volunteer Corps today.

On behalf of the JVC board and staff, we wish you and your loved ones a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Shine bright like an AY

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 18:52:00 +0000

There were some creative Additional Year Jesuit Volunteers at this year's national AY retreat.

Shine bright like an AY

Shine bright like an AY (2x)

We met up in Ocean City
To build community
You and I
You and I
We reflect, and laugh, and cry
Our Spirituality,
Vision of humanity
The 4 values
are alive
As AYs try and try

I knew that we'd become one right away
a family
At first sight I saw the beach house it blew my mind, can't believe
they were all on time

So delve deep, with me, you and I
are going on a life changing journey
Eye to eye, so alive
We're going on a life changing journey

(Chorus)
Shine bright like an AY (3x)
Committed to another year of JVC

Psalms meditate around me
as the waves crash in the sea
We eat simply beans and rice
already done it twice

Our spirituality,
Vision of humanity,
The 4 values
are alive
as AYs try and try

At first sight I saw the beach house it blew my mind, can't believe
they were all on time

So delve deep, with me, you and I
are going on a life changing journey
Eye to eye, so alive
We're going on a life changing journey

(Chorus)

Shop JVC for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 13:55:00 +0000

Are you thinking about a good present to buy for the Jesuit Volunteer or Former JV in your life? Shop the JVC store this Christmas. The popular hoodies are back in three styles, as well as t-shirts, prints, and greeting cards.

JVC earns 10% of the proceeds from your purchase. Now through Christmas, receive free domestic shipping and a $5 gift card on purchases of $50 or more with code nonprofitstore2012.

You can feel good about your purchase, too. The shirts and hoodies are American Apparel, sweatshop free and made in the U.S.

(Read more about AA's business model.)

Giving Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 15:01:00 +0000

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. It's a day when the nation stops to give thanks for the many blessings we have in our lives. Early the next morning, or increasingly on Thanksgiving night, the mad rush of Christmas shopping begins. In 2011, the average shopper spent $398, yet 79 percent of Americans would rather have a charitable donation made in their honor than receive a gift they wouldn't use.

This year, we need you to help us start a new tradition. On Tuesday, November 27, nonprofits and their supporters from across the country are coming together to transform the way people participate in the giving season.

The first Tuesday after Thanksgiving is Giving Tuesday. In the same way that Black Friday, Small-Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday launch the holiday shopping season, Giving Tuesday is a nationwide philanthropic movement away from the consumerism and commercialism of Christmas and a return to the true, generous spirit of the season.

On Tuesday, November 27, we're asking you to participate in Giving Tuesday with a financial contribution to JVC. Your gift, when combined with those of many other donors, has the power to make a big difference.

Any donation, on Giving Tuesday or otherwise, can become a tribute gift. Once Christmas has passed, there are still birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and promotions. Be sure to make note of it along with your check, online donation, or in conversation with JVC staff.

There are many ways to make a difference with your gift. Here are some ideas:

Make an online donation.
Support a Jesuit Volunteer through the Send Me to Serve campaign.
Combined Federal Campaign contributions for JVC should be directed to #64652.
Create your own Crowdrise campaign and encourage friends to donation to JVC.

The Case Foundation and SixDegrees.org will be matching gifts made through Crowdrise.

Read about other ways to give.

Don't forget to help get out the give and share details of your involvement in Giving Tuesday.

Welcome a Jesuit Volunteer to your Organization

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 14:27:00 +0000

Photo by Jason Reblando

Jesuit Volunteers are a valuable resource for the placement sites where they work. They're mature, focused, flexible, committed, and compassionate. Not to mention a cost-effective resource.

"The thing that has impressed me most about working with JVs is their overall commitment to contribute to the well being of members of our society. I am encouraged about our future generation when I hear about how these young people work together in their household to create a positive living environment for themselves. I am also encouraged when I hear about the efforts they make to give back to the neighborhood where they live as well as to improving the lives of the people they touch at work. This commitment is evident daily from our own JV where we can see the compassion and caring that is truly coming from a place of deeply held personal values and the desire to serve.

"Our JV has enabled us to provide fresh produce to over 1,400 families each month. Without her efforts, only a fraction of the families we serve would receive produce. She has also helped us expand our base of referral agencies, thereby linking clients with important resources beyond food. In addition, our Pantry has benefited from our JV's willingness to help out in unexpected ways. She has enabled us to more fully train volunteers. Finally, her positive attitude has enlivened the office."

Oak Park River Food Pantry
Oak Park, Illinois

Applications to become a JV placement site are now being accepted. Visit www.jesuitvolunteers.org/agency. The deadline is Monday, December 3, 2012, so don't delay.

After the Storm

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:04:00 +0000

by Lauren Jung (Harlem '11)

This fall, I was staying with friends in New York City. Taking heed of the hurricane warnings, we decided to pack our bags for a night, just in case, and relocate to somewhere that wasn't such a high-level flood zone. We were reluctant to do so at first because we believed that Hurricane Sandy would essentially be a repeat of the unexpectedly "weak" Hurricane Irene last year.

Flooding on Lauren's block

Thank goodness we decided to leave. When the storm did come, our street was hit pretty hard, with flooding so severe that cars were floating down the street. Not to mention, only a couple blocks away was the massive electrical explosion at the ConEdison plant.

Luckily for me, as an FJV, I always know I can call upon our JVC community for support. Before the storm hit, I was graciously invited to stay at the JVC Brooklyn house in Bedford-Stuyvesant—in a very low-level flood zone. Though I expected to only stay a night, I ended up staying a full week since transportation between the Manhattan and Brooklyn boroughs was unavailable and conditions outside were hazardous. Phone lines and trees were down, there was no electricity, and lots of debris scattered among the storm-swept streets.

I am so appreciative of the Brooklyn house for welcoming me into their home and their amazingly tight-knit community for the duration of that week. Though at times I felt a burden to them, they always went out of their way to convince me otherwise and were so accommodating and welcoming. Not only did they generously share their space with me, but they shared their community time with me as well. Staying with the JVC Brooklyn house was undoubtedly a fun experience and even made me nostalgic to be back in an intentional community setting, which I've greatly missed in recent months since I've transitioned from a JV to an FJV.

Halfway through that week, I had to go back to work at Common Ground in the Lower East Side, an area where it took the longest to regain power. Common Ground is a wonderful, committed organization that provides supportive and affordable housing for homeless and low-income New Yorkers. The Lee, where I work, is a 12-story building with 262 units that house a diverse array of tenants including people who are formerly homeless, low-income, HIV/AIDS Services Administration clients, and emancipated foster-care youth. My commute time tripled to more than two hours as crowds of people tried to access the one bus line that would take us between Brooklyn and Manhattan.

I was willing to make the trip because I understood the importance of what it meant to be at work during this time. Not only did we need more staff on hand but also, as I later learned, it was important for us just to be there and be present to the tenants as they persevered through a very long week of no heat, no hot water, no electricity and no food.

As a JV, one of the lessons I learned was that sometimes the greatest support you can be for someone is to be there for them; that you're there to listen, regardless of the lack of results, action, or concrete change you can provide them. It may sound insignificant or trivial at best, but I've witnessed the power of what that can do for a person and it’s remarkable. Though frustrations were high among the tenants, there were many who went out of their way to thank the Common Ground staff and the dedicated maintenance and security crew that took hours to come into work to ensure that the tenants were safe and warm.

One of my tenants, who was homeless for five years prior to moving into Common Ground housing, shared his thoughts with me about his time during Sandy. He expressed deep gratitude for the building staff that was there to help and said, "it felt good" to have people of the community come together. He said that it was the first time he saw people "come together for one common cause"—ironic given the title of our organization, Common Ground.

He recalled how terrible it was with no lights and to have quickly run out of food, but he was thankful to see the people of the community, of New York City, "helping each other and putting their own needs aside in order to help others." He considered himself lucky and felt badly for others who endured far worse.

Meanwhile, at the end of the workday, I was lucky enough to be able to travel back to Brooklyn, to a home with electricity and heat. There were many people who lost their homes, their possessions, and even loved ones. For others who were more seriously impacted, our experience was only a mere "inconvenience" in our daily lives.

As challenging as things were, in retrospect, Sandy was only a mere inconvenience for me and the many other New Yorkers who lost power that week—something that my tenants were able to understand and be thankful for from the very beginning. It was a moment of feeling grateful for what they did have in life—a roof over their heads, people that were concerned for them, and for being safer than they had been when they were homeless.

Acompañar: To Accompany

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:17:00 +0000

Adrienne Hillman

To celebrate the Year of Faith that Pope Benedict XVI declared beginning October 11, 2012, My Year of Faith highlights stories and reflections of Catholic faith each day. A current Jesuit Volunteer in Nicaragua, Adrienne Hillman, was published recently as she shared her experiences living and working as a JV in Ciudad Sandino. In her reflection, Adrienne includes writings from her journal. The one below focuses on accompaniment and the various ways it is lived out. Let us remember the meaning of this word and its power to bring about dignity, justice and peace in our days--especially when we feel broken or helpless.

Acompañar (To accompany)

To be broken, stripped down, unraveled

To be lost and constantly searching

To question, to dream, to discover

To wonder what the heck I am doing here

To fall apart and then be rebuilt and put back together by a smile, an adios

To discover a persevering strength in the people

To eat lots of rice and beans and hang clothes on the line to dry

To take naps in the hammock

To feel terribly helpless and yet to see so much hope and possibility in the eyes of another

To hold a hand, give a hug, laugh, listen

To be with.

Read the full reflection here.

A Christian Call to Action

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 13:33:00 +0000

Former Jesuit Volunteer Kateleigh Hewins (Boston '11) is currently a Master of Divinity Candidate at Harvard Divinity School. Her reflection on a Christian call to action appeared on Sojourners' God's Politics blog this week. Her challenge reminds us of the love we have within us and around us to embrace lives of active faith in our families, our communities, our country, and our world.

"While it might seem appealing to remove ourselves from secular society altogether and forsake the world in all its brokenness in favor of a uniquely Christian ethic that appeals and applies only to us, Christians have an obligation to serve as active participants in public discourse— elevating the conversation rather than abstaining from it so that we may try to live the truth and convictions of our faith.

To clarify, this obligation is not a duty or a burden placed on us by legalism or dogma. Christian action comes not out of guilt but an authentic and loving response to God.

'For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life' (John 3:16, NRSV)."

Click here to read the full article

October Turning

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:04:00 +0000

David Landry (Baltimore '99) recalls an experience from early in his Jesuit Volunteer experience when tragedy struck. In October of 1999, housemate Clare Furay died in a car accident. He writes this remembrance.

We drove southeast through Maryland that August afternoon, the others singing along with Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car as I sat pensively from the back seat of Clare’s car. It was 1999, our destination was Baltimore, where we were to grow and serve together as year-long, full-time Jesuit Volunteers.

We settled in on Guilford Avenue, a circa 1915 rowhouse with a porch. Nearby was Johns Hopkins University and statues commemorating both Union and Confederate valor.

In a whirlwind of time and action, we meshed as a community of five, met neighbors, support people, and toured each others' workplaces. Maura was a case coordinator at an AIDS clinic, Laura was an advocate for transitional housing needs, Clare was a researcher and advocate for fair housing policies, Michael was a go-to person for the local Habitat for Humanity branch, and I was an intern at an AIDS hospice.

We were drawn to JVC by some previous exposure to Jesuit spirituality. I learned of the program by perusing a brochure in my Mother’s office at the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge as a high school sophomore. Even then I wanted to serve.

To start, there were comings, goings, actions, thoughts, conversations, games, and a livelihood as the weeks turned into September. One evening, while we were all seated for supper, slanted sunlight and audible urbanity drifted through open windows, prompting Michael to remark that his parents would be proud of him, and us, for being “in the city.”

The first Saturday in October, Clare and I drove to Annapolis together, our housemates having other commitments. At twenty-six she was the eldest of our community, followed by me. She attended the University of Notre Dame on a Naval ROTC scholarship, then served for four years as an supply officer aboard the U.S.S. Coronado. We toured the Naval Academy campus, compared notes on being a few years older than our housemates, admired the architecture and Chesapeake Bay, then drove home and watched Dead Poets Society together.

The following Friday afternoon we were all heading Buckeystown, Maryland, for our fall retreat. That morning we were on our own to run errands, etc. We previously agreed to meet for breakfast at Pete’s Grill on Greenmount Avenue. Clare did not show up, which was unusual as she was otherwise communicative and punctual in such instances. It was further understood that we would depart early in the afternoon for the retreat. When the appointed time came Clare was still nowhere around.

Curious concern for her whereabouts began turning into anxiety. Her car was parked out on the street this whole time. Where was she? Michael decided to cycle off to the Hopkins campus and inquire there, knowing that she frequently visited the campus to check her e-mail and run on the track. I did not expect his expedition to be productive, assuring myself that she was simply going to walk through the front door and wonder what all the fuss was about. A mere misunderstanding that we could all understand.

Michael returned in short order, flushed, followed by a dignified, retirement-age Hopkins security officer. The officer solemnly explained to us that there had been an accident that morning near the campus involving a young woman matching Clare’s description who was struck by a vehicle at a dangerous intersection. She did not have any form of identification on her, and had been transported unresponsive to the nearby University of Maryland Medical Center.

I dashed upstairs to Clare’s bedroom, and there, to my consternation, on her dresser, was Clare’s purse, containing her identification. Realistically, but unfathomably, it seemed that the accident victim may be Clare. At this time our JVC superiors were notified of the situation as they gathered at the retreat. The next step was for us to go to the hospital to make a positive identity. We all wanted to go, but it was decided that one of us should stay back to monitor the phone line.

Sensing the urgency in the faces of my housemates, I offered to stay home. Off they went, and time and place transformed for me. Alone, I began pacing. I could not sit, nor could I wander off. All I could do was pace, process, and wait for the phone to ring. Surely this is not good, but if this is indeed Clare, she will prevail in some way, considering what she had accomplished already in life. She has that knack. Minor brain damage, maybe? She can overcome that. Back and forth, my pacing continued.

As evening descended, JVC staff members Kate and Katie arrived from the retreat. We drove downtown at dusk to the hospital. Still convincing myself that this was not as serious as it could be, a justification for staying calm, we parked and walked through corridors to the appointed locale. A sympathetic nurse was conveying finality to my housemates. What I perceived in body language was confirmed in words seconds later.

Earlier, my housemates had positively identified Clare, now it was confirmed that she was no longer with us. She was on a respirator, but was brain dead. We were escorted into her room, where she lay bruised and unresponsive. We circled her bedside and prayed together. While returning from her morning run, she had stopped at a crosswalk before a dangerous, confusing single lane of oncoming traffic paralleled by three lanes of traffic going the opposite direction, all designed to accommodate rush hour traffic. Supposedly she saw three clear lanes, and a fourth which appeared clear from her perspective, then stepped into the path of an oncoming vehicle. An undergraduate witness, a fellow Louisianian, told us that she was never conscious after the impact. Any of us could have stepped into that lane.

A doctor proceeded to phone Clare’s parents. Her father answered and the doctor gave what I guess was a sort of professional review of the situation. The doctor then turned the phone over to Maura so that a more personal connection could be made. Maura’s father died unexpectedly while she was in college, and she possessed an emotional maturity and a sensitive, resonant ability to relate in such a circumstance. Maura and Clare both hailed from large Irish-Catholic families, and both had multiple sisters of the same name. Maura returned to the small, windowless conference room where we were now gathered, including others from our support community, and told us how difficult it was for himm to comprehend his daughter’s death. “No, not Tiger” he repeated, according to Maura.

Clare's mother was called home from the department store where she was working. Clare’s sister Mary worked for TWA and arraigned a flight for her and her parents from St. Louis to Baltimore that evening.

I was calm, but numb and unsure. My housemates suggested that we remain at the hospital so that we could be there when the family arrived, which was of course the right thing to do, but I could have just as easily been convinced to return home and allow the scene to evolve as it may.

Reflection and conversation filled the conference room. Quiet walks through quiet corridors and glances out of windows at the Baltimore skyline filled the time.

There was a murmur that the family arrived at the hospital. I recall rounding a corner and seeing Clare's parents for the first time. I was humbled, dedicated parents as they were. Midwesterners with resolve. I have a vivid recollection of introducing Clare's mother to Fr. Walsh as he approached.

“Oh, Fr. Walsh!” she exclaimed, exasperated, as he extended his arms in a downward, welcoming fashion, no doubt as he had done many times in similar situations over the course of his decades of ministry. Their embrace remains the most poignant scene of that time for me.

The decision was made to keep Clare on the respirator in the meantime for organ donation purposes. It must have been approaching midnight as we all exited the hospital. Upon parting that evening, Clare's father gave us what I consider to be the greatest compliment that I’ve ever received. When thanking us for being with Clare, he said, “I see now why you all were chosen for this program, because you are the best”.

That Saturday broke gray and overcast. Clare was taken off the respirator and declared legally dead. Our friends from the Richmond and Washington, D.C, JVC communities visited, as did the community of Jesuit priests who lived down the street from us.

It was decided that we would attend Sunday morning Mass at the retreat that was still ongoing in Buckeystown.

Clare’s funeral arrangements were made for the following week in her hometown of Webster Groves, a suburb of St. Louis. Her agency, the St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center, in an exceedingly generous gesture, made it possible for our community to fly there to attend. We stayed with the family of a JVC staff member the night before. The Mass of Christian Burial was at Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish on a sunny and windy Wednesday. The graveside service and an Irish wake style reception was held at the family's home afterwards.

As we were leaving, Clare's mother asked us all to pause as she played a recording of the Navy Hymn, Eternal Father Strong to Save in memory of Clare’s devotion to her family, her faith, her country, and her community. “Oh hear us when we pray to thee for those in peril on the sea.”

Blessed as we were to know her, Clare’s depth required much more than an August, September, and October allowed for revelation. She read voraciously and wrote assiduously. She was physically competitive, having completed the Marine Corps Marathon the year before. Her blueberry pancakes were delicious. She was a classic introvert, intellectual and gentle.

My first encounter with her was a phone call which she placed to me shortly before our orientation retreat. She introduced herself, and wondered if I would like to ride to Baltimore with her, though I already had a flight booked. I was buoyed by her thoughtfulness, and we enjoyed an engaging conversation. That call gave me an joyful anticipation of what was ahead.

I sometimes wonder how she would be living her faith if she were still with us. She had already been accepted to the St. Louis University Law School with a scholarship offer, and was applying to Georgetown Law among others.

Her identity is now a joyful mystery. Clare's family hosted me for Christmas 2001. The first night there, after everyone had retired, I stayed in the living room, reading through the collection of condolences to the family upon Clare’s death. The most profound one was a very brief note from the elderly gentleman who drove the car involved in the accident. He offered his sympathy on behalf of his family.

For me, the joy remains in having known her as her inspiration remains. Myself, I will be eternally grateful that God’s path took me to Baltimore.

Remembering Fr. Jack Morris, SJ

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 23:51:00 +0000

A reflection from Kathleen Haser, Acting President of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps:

As you may know, Jack Morris, S.J., died on September 30 in Spokane. He would be 86 years old this month, and had been in failing health for about a year.

With a more than 50 year history, JVC was blessed for so long to have among us someone who was, as Jack said, “there at the beginning.” I met Jack several times over the years, and wanted to share with you some reflections about him, since this is a special moment in JVC history.

Jack Morris himself never claimed to have “founded” the Jesuit Volunteer Corps – rather he talked about recognizing the work of the Spirit in the young volunteers who came to Alaska in 1956 to work at the Jesuit mission schools. His great contribution was to see the possibilities and to find ways to call on their gifts and offer some Ignatian formation for them along the way. He was a faithful friend and animator of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps throughout his life, as the first “director” of JVC, when he worked as a pastor, while working with refugees in Uganda or leading a Peace Pilgrimage from the Northwest to Bethlehem in the 80s. On that trip he stopped in at a JVC reorientation in Philadelphia, with the 20 or so pilgrims who were walking, including many FJVs.

Jack famously described JVC as “older than the Peace Corps, twice as tough, and ten times more rewarding.” I like to recall that when JVC got going, Alaska was not yet a state!

If you had the good fortune to meet him, as I did, you could not forget him. In long rambling stories that he told, his sense of humor was evident, as was his ease with the life of the Spirit. He was always probing the limits, asking questions, and his language was full of unexpected images. He was very progressive in his ideas about the Church, about women, about peace. His interest in others was unmistakable.

Jack was a dreamer and a doer, and he inspired both dreaming and doing in the thousands of Jesuit Volunteers he interacted with. He stayed close to JVC, delighted in its growth, but did not try to hold on to it. He had a role in many orientations in JVC Northwest over the years, so many JVs had the opportunity to meet him. Scores of FJVs stayed in touch with him.

I am so grateful to have known Jack Morris, SJ, and for the many ways his bold and joyful spirit continues to animate the spirit of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

May he rest in peace.

The father of JVC passed away

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:08:00 +0000

Fr. Jack Morris, SJ, who helped to found the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in 1956, passed away on Sunday. We continue to be inspired by his life and mission. His work has blessed thousands of JVs and former JVs. We recall his wisdom with this prayer he wrote when he was ordained 50 years ago:

Mighty God, Father of all,
Compassionate God, Mother of all,
bless every person I have met,
every face I have seen,
every voice I have heard,
especially those most dear;
bless every city, town, and
street that I have known,
bless every sight I have seen,
every sound I have heard,
every object I have touched.
In some mysterious way these
have all fashioned my life;
all that I am,
I have received.
Great God, bless the world.
-Fr. Jack Morris, SJ

Great God, bless Fr. Jack Morris and all his loved ones.

Vote for JVC

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:26:00 +0000

JVC has been nominated as an outstanding organization during the 2012 Chase Community Giving program. As one of 196 select nominees from across the country, we automatically receive a small donation from JP Morgan Chase. However, we also could potentially receive one of many larger grants – ranging from $10,000 to $250,000 – that Chase will make available to the top vote getters during the voting phase of the Community Giving program: September 6th – 19th. This is where you can truly help us out.

Please vote for us to continue increasing the capacity of local agencies to reach out to those made poor and marginalized in our society as we work with this year’s new Jesuit Volunteers.

Spend a moment now taking two simple actions:

Search and Vote for the “Jesuit Volunteers” through Chase’s Community Giving Facebook page – link below (NOTE: you will have to allow the application in order to vote): http://www.facebook.com/ChaseCommunityGiving/app_162065369655
Encourage your professional and personal networks to do the same by forwarding this email and/or using social media to ask your friends to vote as well.

Though you can earn an additional (“bonus”) vote online, you can only vote one time for any given charity. Thank you for your continued support of JVC.

NCR Highlights an FJV Advocate

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:56:00 +0000

Jody Kent Lavy

On August 31, the National Catholic Reporter published a story about Jody Kent Lavy, an FJV who is the current Director and National Coordinator of the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY) in Washington, DC. Jody did JVC in 2002 in Los Angeles (Casa Ita Ford) and was inspired to advocate for change in the juvenile justice system by celebrating Mass with youth at the juvenile hall. Her journey has now brought her the opportunity to partner with JVC in a new way as a supervisor for Jesuit Volunteers. We are proud of the work she is doing with JVs and the passion she brings to the youth in the juvenile justice system.

Click here to read the full article...

JVC Welcome Event at Homegirl Cafe

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:46:00 +0000

Former Jesuit Volunteers, JVC staff, and JVC board members welcomed 21 new JVs in Los Angeles at Homegirl Cafe on August 24th. JVC sends more volunteers to Los Angeles than any other city in the U.S. This year there are two JVs working as case managers at Homeboy Industries. We thank Homegirl Cafe for hosting the event.

Say hello to the new Jesuit Volunteers!

noreply@blogger.com (Jesuit Volunteers) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:16:00 +0000

Here are the Jesuit Volunteers for the 2012 program year! After completing orientation retreats across the country, the new JVs set out to start their work at our partner agencies and to delve into the four values. We are excited to add so many valuable members to the JVC family.

Jesuit Volunteers serving in Belize, Chile, Micronesia, Nicaragua, Peru, and Tanzania.

Jesuit Volunteers serving in Baltimore, Boston, Bridgeport, Brooklyn, Camden, Harlem, Hartford, Newark, Philadelphia, Portland, ME, Raleigh, Scranton, Syracuse, and Washington, DC.

Jesuit Volunteers serving in Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, and St. Louis.

Jesuit Volunteers serving in Austin, Houston, Mobile, New Orleans, Phoenix, San Antonio, St. Francis, SD, and Tucson.

Jesuit Volunteers serving in Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose.