advent 2015
Comfort and Joy: God as Our Transformative Refuge
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, Programs Manager Emily Norton reflects on an adventure in Ecuador which reassured her of God’s presence and companionship. “Su parada.” The bus driver abruptly stopped the bus and told my friend Tyler and me that this was our stop. We were on a standing-room-only bus so…
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Comfort and Joy: Buen Camino
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, FMS board member Patrick Martin shares an experience from his recent trip to Spain for the Camino de Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage. On September 29, we started the day with remarkably little comfort and a great need for joy. We were in the small village of…
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Comfort and Joy: Grace through Dignity
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, missioner Brandon Newland reflects on his interactions with two women from his infirmary visits in Jamaica who have left lasting impressions on him. The end of the year is a wonderful time to reflect on the many blessings given and received throughout the year. This year,…
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Comfort and Joy: Bringing the Body of Christ to Others
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, FMS board member and returned missioner Doug Garofalo shares some of his experiences from his time on mission in Brazil. At my home Parish of St. Peter’s in River Edge, NJ, there is a ritual at the end of each Mass whenever there is a…
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Comfort and Joy: Anam Cara
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, former FMS community member Deanna Wolf shares how she draws comfort from the friends who sometimes know her better than she knows herself. They say when one falls in love, there is an inexplicable feeling that can be described as nothing less than coming…
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Comfort and Joy: Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, DC Service Corps member Josh Maxey stresses the importance of God’s love and forgiveness. Each year the church invites all the faithful to joyfully prepare our hearts and our minds for the celebration of the birth of the savior of the world. The holy…
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Comfort and Joy: Learning to Comfort a Child
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, FMS friend and donor Anusia Dickow shares her experiences of babysitting and how they led to a deeper realization. I was babysitting my baby cousin a few weeks ago. She was only six months old, and this was the first time mom and dad were…
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Comfort and Joy: Finding Joy in Social Justice
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, Programs Associate Katie Rotterman shares the joy she has found through attending Mass at a parish community that deeply resonates with her. I fell in love with the parish community at the Shrine of Sacred Heart in Washington, DC on March 21, 2015 – ten…
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Comfort and Joy: Through Chance Encounters
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, communications manager Bridget Higginbotham shares how unexpected meetings can provide the opportunity to give and receive comfort. One night downtown, a man stopped me as I was about to enter the Metro station. He said he was “looking for human kindness,” so I offered to…
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Comfort and Joy: Exactly Where I Needed to Be
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, Communications Associate Maria Beben shares some of her experiences from her time volunteering at a nursing home in Washington, DC. My year as a communications associate with Franciscan Mission Service (FMS) includes a weekly volunteer component of direct service. As someone who experiences anxiety…
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Comfort and Joy: The Joy of Being Home
Editor’s note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, current missioner Amanda Ceraldi shares how her definition of home has shifted since moving away from home and settling in to mission life in Guatemala. I have found during my first year on mission that I am constantly being called to go outside of my comfort…
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What Brings You Comfort and Joy?
This year, we interviewed each member of the Casa San Salvador community to find out what brings them “comfort and joy.” Comfort and Joy through Faith and Service: [su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiVtxpp38Oc&feature=youtu.be”] Comfort and Joy: “JOY” as an Acronym: [su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5F6XZIh7DM&feature=youtu.be”] Comfort in God’s Plan: [su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwxMIjJ5Lw8&feature=youtu.be”] Comfort in Community: [su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk85H0PHSQw”] Comfort and Joy: Casa San…
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Comfort and Joy: Looking out for the Other
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, missioner Patrick Montine speaks to the power of companionship and shares how his time working in a food kitchen in Jamaica has led to a deeper realization of the importance of relationships. I spend some of my time each week helping out at the…
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Comfort and Joy: St. Francis’ Story of Perfect Joy
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, Development Associate Sarah Sokora shares the story of St. Francis and “true and perfect joy.” Our dear Saint Francis is known for his wild deeds, but his story of “true and perfect joy” proves that his antics are not thoughtless, but are in keeping with his…
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Comfort and Joy: Seeking out Nature
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, missioner Annemarie Barrett reflects on the challenge of living in the concrete city of Cochabamba, Bolivia, and shares how moments in nature provide a source of great comfort for her. One of the harder parts of living in a big city like Cochabamba is the…
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Comfort and Joy: The Importance of Community
Editor’s Note:As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, newly-commissioned missioner Erin McHugh shares how her experience of accompanying young people on retreats last summer gave her the strength she would need during her time of mission formation in Washington, DC. I have often found that throughout my life, I find my comfort in…
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Comfort and Joy: Meeting Ann in Her Cozy Room
Editor’s note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, MJ Park, co-founder and co-director of Little Friends for Peace, reflects on where she has found peace in her own life. Little Friends for Peace is a nonprofit organization that empowers children and adults to solve problems nonviolently. Little Friends For Peace has been working in the Sursum…
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Comfort and Joy: By Hand
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, Secular Franciscan Susan Burke shares how a reassuring presence can bring the greatest of comfort. The first time I met Richard at the door of his hospital room, it went like this: “Hi, I’m Susan, one of the chaplains, and I stopped by to see…
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Comfort and Joy: Christ’s Embrace
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, missioner Maeve Gallagher shares an experience of comfort during a time of trial. In the months leading up to my time in Guatemala people would often ask me if I planned on teaching at Valley of the Angels. “I’m open to everything but teaching,”…
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Comfort and Joy: Prayer and Thanks
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, Br. Thomas Piolata, an O. F. M. Capuchin, shares how he sees the face of Christ in the people that he serves. Every Sunday morning, I have the great privilege of serving food to those experiencing homelessness with the Missionaries of Charity and some of my Capuchin colleagues. We…
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Comfort and Joy: Running in Relationship
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, newly commissioned missioner Allison Dethlefs shares how her love for running has led to deep and lasting relationships. Most people probably wouldn’t associate long-distance running with comfort and joy. It’s quite understandable—years ago the thought mostly filled me with horror and dread. But that was…
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Comfort and Joy: Faith through Beauty
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, Michael Carlson, a former Communications Associate at Franciscan Mission Service, shares how he draws comfort through the times faith challenges him. Faith rarely makes me comfortable at all. I’m amused when people accuse religion, like Karl Marx did, of being an opiate, a fantasy distraction from reality.…
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Comfort and Joy: Even in the Darkness
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, newly commissioned missioner Catherine Sullivan shares her thoughts on preparing to leave for mission and how discomfort and sadness are made new through God. I would have to say that personally, joy is my normal state of being. I am the one who sings in the kitchen…
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Comfort and Joy: Vulnerability
Editor’s note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, DC Service Corps member Lizzy Balboa shares how living in community has challenged her to embrace vulnerability and how, through this vulnerability, she has found comfort and joy. A few weeks ago, one of my community members asked when in my life I’ve felt most at…
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Comfort and Joy: Following Mary’s Example
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, Nonprofit Servant Leadership Program Coordinator Mercedes Matthews shares how the example of Mary’s unwavering love and faith leads us closer to Christ. Upon hearing the theme of comfort and joy, my mind, perhaps like yours, quickly began humming “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” Or more…
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Comfort and Joy: A Sense of Belonging
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, missioner Tom Little shares how he’s found joy through integrating more into the community where he lives and serves in Carmen Pampa, Bolivia. When I first arrived to Bolivia in January I was lost in a cloud of culture shock. Everywhere I turned I saw something that…
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Comfort and Joy: The Cyclical Process
Editor’s note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, missioner Jeff Sved shares how his experiences of prison ministry in Bolivia have shown him how comfort and joy are often fruits of initial discomfort. Francis – brother, not pope – is quite a remarkable example when it comes to the relationship between comfort and joy. What…
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Comfort and Joy: Peace on Earth Begins with Birth
Editor’s note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, current missioner Janice Smullen reflects on the joy that she’s received from her role as a doula, a person who is trained to assist a woman before, during, and after childbirth both physically and emotionally. Although I have never seen a doula depicted as being present…
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Comfort and Joy: Peace in Understanding
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, current missioner Hady Mendez shares how she has drawn comfort through relationship during her time in Bolivia. It’s that time of year again. The time when we relish feelings of peace, love, comfort, and joy. Over the last two years of service, I have discovered that…
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Comfort and Joy: Long-Distance Strength
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, current missioner Valerie Ellis shares how she has been able to give and receive comfort while on mission in Bolivia. As I reflect on how my friends and family have helped me over the past year and a half, I can’t help but be filled with a…
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Comfort and Joy: Accompaniment
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, former community member and friend of FMS Kate Flannery shares the comfort she’s found during her time living at home with her parents before her wedding. My worn tires coasted into our driveway after their 900 mile journey. Only a year and a half ago, they had…
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Comfort and Joy: A Friend through Discernment
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, newly commissioned missioner Aubrey Kimble shares part of her discernment journey during her semester abroad in Seville, Spain. During my junior year at UNC, I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Seville, Spain. It was absolutely one of the most formative experiences…
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Comfort and Joy: Witnessing Hope during Suffering
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, Mark LaBelle, a seminarian and friend of FMS, shares how an experience during hospital ministry deeply affected him and allowed him the opportunity to be a witness to hope. “You are one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met.” Sure, we had only been acquainted…
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Advent 2015: Comfort and Joy
All the preparation and waiting of the Advent season leads up the moment when Christ enters the world. In the hustle and bustle of it all, we see in the quiet stillness the image of a mother and child which brings to mind something we see so little of in our world today: tenderness. This…
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