Month: April 2012
National Volunteer Month Profile: Tim and Cecilia in South Africa
We conclude our series of profiles for National Volunteer Month with Tim and Cecilia Marcy, our most senior missioners. We hope that our posts from the last month have made you aware of the impact of volunteers as well as inspired you to answer your own call to service. Click on image to enlarge The…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Bridget in DC
For those of you who have wondered who at FMS writes our blog posts, tweets, and Facebook posts, meet Bridget Higginbotham. Bridget is the full-time domestic volunteer from Florida who serves as our communications coordinator. In addition to our social media she handles our website, newsletter, videos, photos and design. When Bridget graduated from the…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Daena in DC
Today we profile Daena Padilla who, along with her husband Eduardo, runs Casa San Salvador, our office and hospitality house in Washington DC. They actually met while volunteering with the Claretians in Chicago, and in September they are expecting a baby girl. As house managers, Daena and Eduardo welcome our guests and keep the house clean…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Matt in DC
As program associate, domestic volunteer and Indianapolis native Matt Lorch appreciates the opportunity to work at FMS because it uniquely combines his interest in international service, Franciscan spirituality, nonprofit programming, and living in Washington, DC. Before starting at FMS in June 2011, Matt worked as a student mentor at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Kitzi in Bolivia
Kitzi Hendricks started her Bolivian mission in January after completing three months of training with us in Washington, DC. Originally from Sacramento, California, she graduated last year Creighton University where she studied psychology and was a member of Pi Beta Phi. Today Kitzi shares about her new ministry with Madre de Dios in Cochabamba, a shelter for…
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National Volunteer Month profile: Evelyn in Virginia
Our annual World Care Benefit and Celebration is not only a way for us to raise money, but a chance to introduce ourselves and our work to new people. In 2009, Evelyn Mercantini was one of those people. “I was so touched by their spirituality and dedication to their work that I wanted to learn…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Lynn in Bolivia
Today we highlight the other half of our couple serving in Bolivia: Lynn Myrick. Lynn was a college English professor for 28 years until she felt called to serve God in a new and different way. After earning her Masters in Theology from Vanderbilt Divinity School, she served as a college chaplain until May 2009 when…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Joel in Bolivia
Husband and wife Joel Vaughn and Lynn Myrick are in their third year of service in Bolivia. Their ministries are primarily in education, using teaching English as a way to connect and be present with the poor. Today we highlight Joel’s current ministries in Cochabamba. Two days a week, Joel teaches English at Carcel Abra, a…
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The Earth Day that Pachamama led an anti-litter campaign
Missioner Jean Lechtenberg dressed up as Pachamama for Earth Day 2008 in Carmen Pampa, Bolivia To the indigenous peoples of the Andes, everything is inhabited by spirits – rocks, trees, mountains – but Pachamama is the earth itself. She is the source of all life, fruit, grain, springs of water, and the mineral riches of…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Nora in Bolivia
The green thumb of our missioners has to be Nora Pfeiffer. Most of Nora’s ministries in Cochabamba, Bolivia relate to the environment — from hosting radio shows, helping with retreats, composting, and tending a garden with the children at the Franciscan Social Center where she lives. The University of Richmond graduate is today’s National Volunteer…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Jack in Virginia
Today we highlight the volunteer work of Jack McHale, who has served on the FMS board since spring 2011. “We are all called to serve and use the many gifts that God has given to all of us,” Jack said. “Working on the board for FMS is, today, my way of being ‘part of…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Naomi in DC
Today’s volunteer profile is on the newest member of the FMS family: domestic volunteer Naomi Amsberry. Naomi came to us from Oregon on March 5 to serve as a development associate and office manager.“I was drawn toward the opportunity to live and work in a faith-based, relationship rich environment,” Naomi said. In addition to helping…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Mariam in DC
In today’s volunteer spotlight, get to know Mariam Mitry, our associate director who started as FMS’ first domestic volunteer. “I came to volunteer with FMS because it was the perfect intersection of my passions: my faith in Christ, transformative cross-cultural experiences, and journeying with the poor and the oppressed. The fact that I now do…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Catherine in Cochabamba
After having served in Bolivia from 2002 to 2004 and returning in 2010, Catherine Giller is in her final year of lay mission with FMS. Her primary ministry has been serving in programs focusing on children and youth, including lunch and afterschool programs. She was recently invited to work with Voces Para Latinoamerica and Voces…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Christine in DC
Like most of our domestic volunteers, Christine Landau learned about FMS through the Catholic Volunteer Network. Her interests in humanitarian and environmental awareness and solidarity made FMS a great fit for her. “Volunteering at FMS allows me to encourage others to remember our shared calling to work towards a just distribution of the earth’s resources…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Fr. Martin in San Antonio
Today we spotlight one of our board members, Fr. Martin Day, OFM Conventual who lives in San Antonio with the Province of Our Lady of Consolation. Fr. Martin became a part of FMS several years ago after connecting with some of our missioners-in-training during a class on Catholiciscm in a Global Context at Washington Theological…
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“…born to eternal life” – The Journey Home
We’ve made it. We’ve reached the end of peace prayer petitions and the end of the Lenten season. But while Lent may be over, our work for peace is not. For our missioners, the end of their time abroad does not end their time of service. Like all of us, they are called to lifelong mission and…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Michael in Bolivia
Michael Redell started his first year of lay mission with FMS in January. Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, his background is in education and coaching. Before coming to FMS, he went on a short-term mission to Peru and taught for a year in Alaska. “Ever since I had volunteered down in Peru…I knew I wanted…
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FMS celebrates National Volunteer Month
April is National Volunteer Month and FMS kicks off our celebration with a message from our executive director, Kim Smolik. From a very young age, my parents gifted with me the experience of volunteering and lessons about the value of serving others. Through our church and community, we volunteered as a family throughout our hometown…
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“Pardoning that we are pardoned” – A Guatemalan Healing Ritual
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells us, “Forgive and you will be forgiven.” We know that forgiving others begets forgiveness from God, but sometimes we are challenged to forgive ourselves. Or, perhaps our challenge comes not in forgiving but in forgetting or moving on. Rather than foster anger, resentment or sadness, our journey for Easter peace calls…
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