Archive
Finding God in “thin places”
“Thin places,” says New York Times writer Eric Weiner, are “locales where the distance between heaven and earth collapses and we’re able to catch glimpses of the divine, or the transcendent.” These places can confuse, disorient, relax and redirect us. They can be traditionally sacred places like a church, or wild and untamed like a…
Read MoreMission and Motherhood: Growing in God
Patty Sollmann, returned missioner and mother of three “I compare my mission experience to motherhood, and the impact that motherhood has on one’s life,” says Patty Sollmann, who served in Guatemala from 1992 to 1994 as part of FMS’ second lay mission class. “Both have stretched me and challenged me to embrace God’s plan of…
Read MoreMission Monday: Book signing in Zambia
Fr. Joseph Mutemena, OFM Conv., talks to Sandra Bradford’s English class about his book and becoming a priest. When missioner Sandra Bradford taught the creative writing unit to her St. Francis Secondary School’s 11th grade English class in Zambia, she decided to use an example from the community. “The Beasts of Ghosts Town” is about…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreThe 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…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreNational 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…
Read MoreFMS 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…
Read MoreWorld Water Day 2012 – Water and Food Security
Did you know that it takes 3,000 liters of water to satisfy your daily needs? When you add up the liquids you consume and what goes into making the food you eat, the products you use, the clothes you wear, and the water you use in the bathroom, kitchen or laundry room, that’s about 12,680…
Read MoreAnnual fundraiser gathers together family of Franciscans
Guests of honor: Cardinal McCarrick, Cardinal Wuerl, Dr. Margaret Melady, Ambassador Thomas Melady Friday night, guests mingled and discussed their common interests of service, peace, justice and care for creation at St. Francis Hall in Washington, DC, for the World Care Benefit and Celebration, which raised more than $25,000 in support of FMS. Guests of…
Read MoreInternational Women’s Day 2012: Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty
FMS missioner Emily Ward (Bolivia, 2006-2009) with women in the Tantakun bakery of Mineros San Juan in Ushpa-Uspha, Bolivia. Happy International Women’s Day! Today, organizations and individuals across the world recognize that securing peace, social progress, freedom and the enjoyment of human rights depends on the participation, equality and development of women. The United Nations…
Read MoreFebruary Soups: Broccoli Cheddar and Moroccan Lentil
Paul O’Keeffe, OFM, and his soup (Photo by Dan Horan, OFM). Br. Paul O’Keeffe, chef-turned-development director, whipped up two more delicious soups for our second Souposium this past Sunday. If you couldn’t make the event or need some meatless dishes for Lent, here’s how you can make these soups yourself. Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup Ingredients…
Read More47 ways to help the Earth this Lent
Instead of giving up sweets or alcohol this Lent, why not give up wasted water and energy? Starting some great new habits (and breaking old bad ones) this liturgical season could help protect the Earth today and for future generations. This Lenten Caring for Creation Calendar from the Environmental Outreach Committee of the Archdiocese of Washington…
Read MoreMission Monday: The Power of a Smile
New missioners Kitzi and Michael continue their Spanish studies at the Maryknoll Langauge Institute in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Today Kitzi shares about the friend she made on her walk to class. “A smile is the shortest distance between two people” –Victor Borge “I have a new friend in Bolivia and it all started because of a…
Read MoreBr. Paul’s Recipe for Cream of Mushroom Soup
The cream of mushroom soup was so popular at our inaugural Souposium event that guests quickly emptied the pot and were scraping the bottom just to get a taste. When we brought Br. Paul O’Keeffe, OFM, on staff last month, we gained both a development director and a trained chef. Before becoming a FMS lay missioner or…
Read MoreMission Monday: Nature’s Lesson in Persistence
New missioner Michael Redell is in the middle of language school in Cochabamba, Bolivia. He shares today the lesson nature taught him about facing challenges, such as learning Spanish.I remember last week being quite frustrated with what seemed to me slow progress in learning Spanish. So, I decided to take some time and sit outside to…
Read MoreMission Monday: A Quinceañera at the Franciscan burn center
Bolivian children recovering severe burns are sometimes brought to the Franciscan Social Center in Cochabamba to heal. Missioner Nora Pfeiffer, who lives at the center, shares with us this “Mission Monday” a recent special birthday celebration. The 15th birthday girl and the cake made by Nora Here in Bolivia, a girl’s 15th birthday is particularly…
Read MoreFour Days in Bolivia – What Kitzi’s Seen So Far
After arriving safely in Bolivia, our newest missioners started their Spanish-immersion classes at the Maryknoll Language Institute yesterday. In her first blog post abroad, Kitzi Hendricks summarized her observations so far. As is common with new arrivals overseas, many of her observations are general and are from an outsider’s view. Her understanding and appreciation of the Bolivian culture…
Read MoreA visit to the MLK memorial
Two of our domestic volunteers, Rachel Roa and Bridget Higginbotham, recently visited the new Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial here in Washington, D.C. Bridget offers a reflection on their experience. Photo by Bridget Higginbotham One benefit to volunteering is D.C. is that I am constantly surrounded by inspiration. From the beautifully spiritual people I’ve…
Read MoreFranciscan Friday: Prayer for Missioners
Michael Redell Kitzi Hendricks Susan Slavin Missioners Michael Redell and Kitzi Hendricks arrived in Bolivia today while Susan Slavin makes her final preparations for Kenya. As they begin their two-year mission journey abroad, please join us in praying the Franciscan Prayer for Missioners: Lord, make our sisters and brothers serving in other countries instruments of your peace. .…
Read MoreMission Monday: Busting Myths
Our Associate Director Mariam Mitry busts the myths she frequently hears about mission: In the past couple months, I have had the pleasure of speaking with more than 100 students interested in volunteering internationally after they complete their undergraduate studies. I find that whenever I’m recruiting — whether I’m talking to college students or retirees…
Read MoreFirst Christmas in Zambia
As we wrap up the Christmas season, our missioner Sandra Bradford shares how she and her husband Bryce spent the holiday. In Zambia, they serve as high school teachers and help run the retreat center for the St. Francis Friary. Our liturgical Advent celebration was a wonderful preparation for Christmas. I made new banners with…
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