Month: April 2016
Love in a Suffering World
Editor’s Note: After accompanying her friend and fellow missioner through illness, missioner Allison Dethlefs reflects on fighting through feeling helpless and finding assurance that merely being present is more powerful than we often realize. For three months during our training for long-term mission it was repeatedly pounded into our heads that our main ministry was…
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Beams of Love: Being There
Editor’s Note: In the second installation of her four part “Beams of Love” series, missioner Amanda Ceraldi shares how her time spent with one of her students in the hospital challenged her to set her own comfort aside in order to take care of her student. “We are put on earth for a little space…
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Mileage, Motivation, and Ministry
Editor’s note: During Pittsburgh native Jeff Sved’s visit to the US he plans to run his first full marathon in May. In the last post, he answered questions about training for a marathon while in Bolivia. Today, he talks about he got into running in the first place. What do you like about running and how did…
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The Pope Francis Mission Cross in Carmen Pampa
Editor’s Note: Missioner Tom Little shares his reflections from an event at Carmen Pampa University in Bolivia that brought the community closer and allowed them to grow together in faith. Last month the community of Carmen Pampa participated in the passing of the mission cross. Pope Francis brought the cross to Bolivia during his visit last July…
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Making it Rain
Editor’s Note: Missioner Brandon Newland reflects on the arrival of spring in Jamaica and the deeper life lessons that can be found in gardening. Despite the somewhat mild temperatures of winter in Jamaica, spring is still the beginning of the growing season for many crops. Last year we attempted a rather grandiose garden with one…
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Beams of Love: Finding My “Little Space”
Editor’s Note: Today launches a special series written by missioner Amanda Ceraldi about learning to “bear the beams of love” to all those she encounters in her ministry at Valley of the Angels school in Guatemala. Join us for the next three Mondays as Amanda shares the experiences that reassured her that she is exactly…
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Marathon Training on Mission
Editor’s note: As fourth-year missioner Jeff Sved prepares for the May 1 Pittsburgh Marathon, he answers some frequently asked questions about his training. Jeff is currently serving in three prisons in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and hopes his participation in the marathon can raise awareness about how the prison rehabilitation system should be focusing on restoring relationships…
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Servant Leadership
Editor’s Note: Missioner Patrick Montine shares how an opportunity to attend a leadership workshop corresponded with his own understanding of servant leadership. A little while ago, I was afforded an opportunity to travel with some of the youth from my parish to a youth leadership workshop in Trelawny, Jamaica. I was able to participate in…
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The Winter Before the Spring
Editor’s Note: Missioner Erin McHugh shares how she trusts that despite some uncertainty, her time on mission in Jamaica will be one of much growth. Spring is beginning back in the States, but we all know that spring doesn’t come without a winter. I felt like this winter I was being hit with one snowstorm…
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Accompaniment
Editor’s Note: During this National Volunteer month, missioner Aubrey Kimble shares some of her meditations on volunteering and service. Volunteering has always been something that has interested me. I began volunteering a bit here and there throughout elementary and middle school to help with various campus events. I became slightly more serious about volunteering in…
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“Praised Be You, My Lord, With All Your Creatures”
Editor’s Note: Missioner Janice Smullen reflects on the adjustments during her first month on mission in Jamaica and the beauty that she’s discovered there. “When you send forth your breath, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.” Ps. 104:30 “Praised be You, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially…
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Exporting Racism, Where Do We Stand?
Editor’s Note: Missioner Annemarie Barrett reflects on the topic of prejudice in the United States and how it affects the rest of the world but in particular, how she’s seen it affect Bolivia. Since the beginning of formation with Franciscan Mission Service, I was taught that to follow the example of Francis of Assisi was…
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