ministry of presence
The Kingdom of Heaven is in You
Editor’s Note: Lay missioner Susan Sarkissian shares stories of accompanying children with disabilities at Bethlehem Home, one of her ministry sites. One of the pillars that missioners follow is that of accompaniment. We walk alongside others, being present, empowering them on their life’s journey. To be absolutely honest, I had no idea what that looked…
Taking Stock, Thanking God
Editor’s Note: Lay missioner Mary Liston Liepold, OFS shares a moment of encounter from her recent visit to the El Paso detention facility and expresses her gratitude for the small miracles that she witnesses. Just a bit past the midpoint of my time on mission, I re-read the Personal Mission Statement from my Commissioning in…
Day 8: Sharing Hope
Editor’s Note: On the eighth day of our 2025 Advent blog series, “Visions of Visitation, Love in Motion,” DC Service Corps alumna and FMS Interim Grants Manager Bridget Higginbotham reflects on how she serves as a source of hope for her friends and how she has experienced hope through her community. This January, I was…
An Interview with Annemarie Barrett
Editor’s Note: As Franciscan Mission Service celebrates its 35th anniversary, we had the gift of interviewing Annemarie Barret (OLM Class 27, serving in Cochabamba, Bolivia from 2013-2016). Read her interview below to learn more about her journey as a lay missioner, her art, and her life in Bolivia. Can you share with us how you…
Running on God’s Time
Editor’s Note: Lay missioner Kim Wagner shares how she has learned to slow down and be present at one of her ministry sites, Casa Rita Sanchez. When I first moved to El Paso with FMS, I was placed as a volunteer in the shelters of Annunciation House for people migrating to the United States. The…
A Ministry of Witness
Editor’s Note: Lay missioner Kim Wagner shares how she practices the ministry of presence in an immigration courtroom. As I stand in the hallway outside the immigration courtroom, I offer a pen to the people leaving court who had their immigration case continued or dismissed entirely. One woman takes the pen from me, gets her…
Bolivia Will Change You
Editor’s Note: Lay missioner Ralph Anderson, OFS shares a story of Franciscan transformation of heart from nonviolence to love through relationship. I have served in foreign missions short-term since January of 2000. First in Ecuador, then Mexico, Honduras, and now Bolivia full-time. Bolivia is the country that has captured my heart. When I first arrived…
Encountering and Offering
Editor’s Note: DC Service Corps volunteer Anahi Vega shares her experience encountering people experiencing homelessness in Baltimore. I recently had the opportunity to walk the streets of Baltimore and meet 13 individuals. Imagine how many people walk past them, trying to ignore the fact that they are there – hey I’m guilty of it. It’s…
Fleeting, Meaningful Moments
Editor’s Note: Reflecting on his program year thus far, DC Service Corps volunteer Philip Krabill shares a few meaningful moments that he experienced in unexpected circumstances. I have grown to love the DCSC program for many reasons. My ministry site, Little Friends for Peace gives me valuable work experience and meaningful insights into the human…
Day 1: The Holy Family
Editor’s Note: On the first day of our Advent blog series, “Following the Holy Family in Solidarity,” FMS Communications Coordinator Madeline Turley shares how the Holy Family embodies the spirit of solidarity. When I contemplate the Holy Family, composed of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I describe it as extraordinary, with emphasis on both “extra” and…
The Spirituality of Hello and Goodbye
Editor’s Note: DC Service Corps volunteer Jennifer Eburuoh contemplates being fully present even in brief interactions through a concept that she calls “the spirituality of hello and goodbye.” Being halfway through my service year, I would like to share an unexpected grace that I have begun to call the spirituality of hello and goodbye. This…
Silent Accompaniment
Editor’s Note: DC Service Corps volunteer Noah Duclos shares a thoughtful reflection on God’s stillness and silence in a Bible passage and how this inspires his way of accompanying others. This week, I’d like to share a reflection on 1 Kings 19:9-13. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you…
Embracing Connections
Editor’s Note: As she waits for her time on mission to begin, lay missioner Susan Sarkissian reconnects with friends and family members and cherishes her relationships with her loved ones. When the FMS Formation ended in November 2023, I knew I had a long wait for my Jamaican Visa to be approved. My heart and…
When Plans Change
Editor’s Note: As she returns to her ministry site after spending Christmas with her family, lay missioner Julia Pinto reflects on three strangers whom she encounters along the way. After being away for two years, I gratefully soaked in every moment I could with loved ones over the Christmas holidays. My heart was full as…
Day 13: Simplicity
Editor’s Note: For day 13 of our Advent series, “The Day of Joy Drew Near,” missioner Julia Pinto contemplates the simplicity of Jesus’ Nativity and tells the story of a simple yet meaningful encounter. God, I don’t get it.. Why a barn in some far-off village? Why not have the King of the universe born…
Holy Ground
Editor’s note: Reflecting on the Scriptural concept of “holy ground,” missioner Joleen Johnson ponders how each person she encounters, created in the image of God, is inviting her to holy ground. Have you ever thought about why God told Moses to take off his sandals when he came over to the burning bush? The story…
Breaking Down Walls
Editor’s Note: Lay missioner Julia Pinto, who serves in the US-Mexico border region, describes an encounter with a woman whom she serves both physically and emotionally at the Migrant Resource Center. We had months of attending to very few people at CRM, the Migrant Resource Center. The number of people I attended to in my…
A Day in the Life at a Franciscan Convent
Editor’s note: When missioner Joleen Johnson found out that she had a day off from her ministry at primary school, she made a plan for how she wanted to spend her time. But the day unfolded much differently than she expected, with many opportunities for ministry of presence with the residents of the Franciscan convent…
Compassionate Companionship
Editor’s note: DC Service Corps volunteer Matthew Hinderberger reflects on the need for companionship through an experience at his ministry site, Christ House, a home for men experiencing homelessness with acute medical needs. “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then…
The Graces of Change
Editor’s Note: DCSC volunteer Emily Dold discusses the impact of change through the experiences of Casa changes as well as her role within the Father McKenna Center shifting. Have you ever felt as though a homily was meant just for you? Or, more likely, that God wanted you to hear the homily’s contents? The Easter…
The Ministry of a Programs Associate
Editor’s Note: DCSC Volunteer and Programs Associate Fatima Godfrey reflects on her role within the FMS office, finding the mission of accompaniment abundantly. Working at the FMS office as the Programs Associate provides me the opportunity to serve as the first point of contact for those inquiring with FMS. This means I get the privilege…
Dishes Washed with Love
Editor’s note: FMS Development Associate, Madeline McKissick introduces her call to the ministry of presence. Entering into this new chapter, she depicts how her ministry looks different than some of her peers. She welcomes the reader to reflect on the teachings of Mother Teresa by doing little things with great love. At Franciscan Mission Service,…
In the Midst of God’s Grace
Editor’s Note: DC Service Corps volunteer, Nadia Barnett reflects on God’s grace that is often revealed through the present moment. I live my life in the midst of God’s grace. We all do. It’s not always apparent, but it is always present. This time of service has taught me many lessons about God, my faith,…
Bigger than the Internet
Editor’s Note: Tim Shelgren, Missioner in Jamaica, describes the relationships he has built on mission and how he has learned to communicate love to others without using words or technology. Lately, I have been listening to Richard Rohr’s podcast series, Another Name for Everything, that he is offering in conjunction with his new book, Universal…
Love Around A Table
Editor’s Note: DC Service Corps member, Nayeli Garcia reflects on how the simple act of sitting down at the dinner table has shaped her family’s relationships. This Advent season is a time for us to celebrate the coming of Jesus, but it is also a time to celebrate, with family, all of the good we’ve…
Love Blooms Through a Stranger
Editor’s Note: In preparation for her mission in Guatemala, Missioner Becky Kreidler reflects on the generosity of a stranger she encountered while serving at the Father McKenna Center. Each week during Formation, I served at the Father McKenna Center, a social service agency supporting men struggling with homelessness and families dealing with food insecurity. One…
The Power of Intentional Listening
Editor’s Note: Current missioner in formation, Hannah Hagarty reflects on a life-changing conversation she had while serving at Christ House in Washington, DC and the beauty that can unfold when we truly listen to our neighbors. As a missioner in training, we are given the opportunity to go out into the community and practice what…
A Blessed Ending
Editor’s Note: Missioner Cindy Mizes reflects on the beauty of life as she led an art project for the patients at Consie Walters Cancer Care hospice in Kingston, Jamaica. On one of my recent visits to Consie Walters Cancer Care hospice, I gathered the patients in a circle on the veranda to begin the day’s…
Walk Good
Editors Note: Missioner Cindy Mizes shares beautiful memories created alongside Mr. M, a gentleman at Consie Walters Cancer Care Hospice in Kingston, Jamaica. Consie Walters Cancer Care Hospice is a place where impoverished men and women with terminal cancer are lovingly cared for. This summer, I had the privilege of ministering there. On my first…
Learning Humility and ‘The Sacrament of the Present Moment’
Editor’s note: Missioner SarahJane Cauzillo reflects on her ability to be present to those she serves in Cochabamba, Bolivia and the graces God has given her to do so. “If you have come here to help me… you are wasting your time. But, if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine,…
Shuffling the Cards: On Spades and Disinterested Love
Editor’s note: DC Service Corps volunteer PJ Herrera shares a reflection on his ministry work at So Others Might Eat (SOME). One of the things I’ve learned the most about through my year of service with FMS is the importance of relational ministry. When starting my year here, I wasn’t quite sure what to make…
Seeing Clearly: Happy Presence Day
Editor’s note: As part of FMS’ Lenten blog series, Programs Associate Rose Urankar shares an unexpected experience practicing ministry of presence. Ah, a day off! One of the best things about transitioning into the working world after 18 years of Catholic education is celebrating federal holidays with a vacation day. This President’s Day, I was…
Being There
Editor’s note: Former DC Service Corps volunteer Chase Medelberg shares what he learned about the ministry of presence while serving at Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School last year. What a year it was at FMS. I still remember walking up the mountain of steps in front of Casa San Salvador and being greeted by…
Give the Gift of Presence on World Alzheimer’s Day and Every Day
Editor’s note: Missioner Anna Klonowski reflects on her personal connections to people with Alzheimer’s on World Alzheimer’s Day. In 2010, I was on the brink of newfound freedom, sitting in the backseat of a Driver’s Ed car waiting for my turn to cruise (or rather, slowly and nervously jolt) down Main Street. My friend was…
On the Road with Hermana Carmen
Editor’s note: Missioner Anna Klonowski recounts her first meeting with a ministry site supervisor and what she learned from Hermana Carmen about living the Franciscan charism. During my search for ministry opportunities, I heard about a place called Hogar San José, a nursing home only a 15-minute walk from my house in Cochabamba. The first…
Welcome Executive Director Elizabeth Hughes
Executive Director Liz Hughes has been with FMS just over a month, but she can trace her path to her current position all the way back through her many job experiences. She described her development in terms of a J.D. Salinger quote: “All we do our whole lives is go from one little piece of…
Were You There: “To Be With You is Sacred”
Editor’s note: Reflecting on the passing of a loved one, Interim Executive Director Meghan Meros shares how she came to a deeper appreciation that being present with another person is a sacred opportunity to encounter, share, and give love. Once, I was with someone when they died, but I did not have the privilege of…
Were You There: Finding Peace
Editor’s Note: Guest blogger and nurse Emily Colonna reflects on a patient she accompanied at Christiana Hospital, where she was challenged to find God’s presence and strength even in the face of tragedy. I am a nurse at a local hospital in the intensive care unit. I graduated last spring from Neumann University, a…
Were You There: “Rompiendo Barreras”
Editor’s Note: A Junior at St. Mary’s University and a finalist for the San Damiano Award, Valeria García reflects on how she came to a deeper understanding of what it means to “be present” and witness to the lives and sufferings of those around her. Barreras: they were always present. I grew up knowing that…
Were You There: Comfort From a Stranger
Editor’s note: Missioner Anna Klonowski reflects on a past service trip she attended in college, where a small gesture of comfort from one of the women there reminded her that service begins in the little deeds of kindness we do for each other. In college, I had the opportunity to participate in an Alternative Break…
Were You There: Presence at Camp
Editor’s note: missioner Maggie Van Roekel shares how a conversation and friendship with a young camper challenged her to find time to be present even amidst the busyness of her work. For the past three summers, I worked as a summer camp counselor at a camp for individuals of all ages who have special needs.…
Were You There: Ministry of Presence in the Little Things
Editor’s Note: DC Service Corps member Ali Sentmanat reflects on an encounter with a man at the Father McKenna Center which changed her perspective and approach to “being there” for other people. The Father McKenna Center has a large gathering area for meetings that is often called “the chapel.” As I was walked through it…
Were You There?
Lent is a time for reflections and questions. What will we offer up during Lent? How can we change our daily habits to grow in our relationship with God and each other? How can we serve and walk in the footsteps of Christ right now in our own lives? “Were You There?” is a beautiful…
Be Not Afraid: Strength in the Aftermath
Editor’s Note: Missioner Cindy Mizes reflects on the Nepalese earthquake in 2015 and how she was able to move past her fear for her own security in order to serve and assist in the relief efforts. When I read the headlines on April 25, 2015, describing the major earthquake that struck Nepal, fear immediately welled…
Happy Day
Editor’s note: Missioner-in-training Cindy Mizes reflects on her service at the Jeanne Jugan Residence, where she has formed relationships with the residents. Every Wednesday morning, I take a 30 minute walk from Casa San Salvador through the Catholic University of America campus to the Jeanne Jugan Residence, a long-term care facility for the elderly with limited…
Presence in the Everyday
Editor’s note: Missioner-in-training Maggie Van Roekel has an encounter that gives her a new perspective on the practice of ministry of presence in daily life. During the first few weeks of formation, we’ve talked a lot about ministry of presence. FMS really embraces not only serving, but also opening our ears and our hearts to…
Just Smile
Editor’s Note: Missioner-in-training Misty Menis-Kyler reflects on a thought-provoking encounter with a man experiencing homelessness as she served food and drink to those in need in Washington DC. Last week, in addition to our regular formation classes, I had an amazing opportunity to go out into the streets of DC and give food and drink…
Dancing Through the Doorway
Editor’s Note: Missioner Allison Dethlefs shares how she’s been able to start forming relationships through teaching Zumba classes to girls who are survivors of sexual abuse. Upon arriving in Cochabamba, Bolivia, over seven months ago, I had no idea what kind of ministry I was going to get involved in. By a stroke of luck, during my six…
Letting Go: The Power of Just Being There
Editor’s Note: Returned missioner Claire McGarry reflects on letting go of the desire to “fix” problems and instead using that energy to focus on the importance of accompanying others and presenting them with hope. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galations 6:2 As long as I…
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…
