welcome
Day 10: Tradition
Editor’s note: Teresa Redder is a Secular Franciscan and a member of the FMS Board of Directors. She also serves as the secretary for St. Katharine Drexel Region (OFS) and her local fraternity’s formation director. She is married and has four children and six grandchildren. In this blog, Teresa reflects on the richness of Polish…
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Feeling Welcomed in DC
Editor’s note: DCSC Volunteer Anne-Marie Elsinger, describes her experience becoming familiar with DC from an African perspective. I have always considered DC a big city with a small city feel. It has a population of almost 700,000 people, yet people still greet you on the street. I came to DC because I deeply desired immersion…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: The Feeling of Hospitality
Editor’s note: As a part of FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, missioner Anna Klonowski reflects on the moments of hospitality she’s experienced in Bolivia. I have experienced hospitality this year on mission in so many new and unexpected ways. This makes me think of a quote from Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said,…
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Faith Calls Us to Be Neighbors: Christmas Night with the Shepherds
Editor’s note: Elizabeth Hughes is the Executive Director of FMS. After our Advent reflections on experiences of hospitality, she invites you to join her in a Christmas imaginative prayer, accompanying the shepherds to welcome Jesus to the world. What gifts and graces might have unfolded during the journey of welcome? “O, Holy Night…the thrill of…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: Aymara Hospitality
Editor’s note: As a part of FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, returned missioner Lee Lechtenberg shares an experience of hospitality while adventuring the Inca trail with fellow missioners in Bolivia. Our journey began in the falling snow at the top of a mountain, trying to find the beginning of the Inca trail that would take…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: When the Advent Promise Has No Resonance
Editor’s note: As a part of FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, Fr. Joe Nangle, OFM, reflects on the meaning of Advent and the need to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Christian-Catholics identify closely with each of the Church’s liturgical seasons. We rejoice at Emanuel—God-With-Us—during Christmastime; we recognize our need for…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: So Much Room
Editor’s note: As a part of FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, former DC Service Corps volunteer, Kathleen Strycula, reflects on the blessing of empty spaces. There’s a guest room in my home. It’s the first house I’ve lived in that’s big enough to have a room dedicated to visitors, and I love it. Only a…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: God’s Welcoming Presence In Our Vocation
Editor’s note: As a part of FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, Graphic Design Associate Alessia Catena shares the feeling of God’s presence as a moment of welcome and faith in her relationship. When my fiancée, Chris, and I were first discerning marriage, he was getting ready to move halfway across the world to Japan. Odd…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: God’s Welcoming Presence Abroad
Editor’s note: Christopher Unger is a service member in the United States Air Force and engaged to FMS Graphic Design Associate, Alessia Catena. As a guest blogger for FMS’ Advent blog series, Chris shares his experience finding God overseas in the welcoming outreach of others. My story begins upon arriving to my new duty station…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: Relationships, Community, Involvement, Learning
Editor’s note: Joseph J. Cicala, Ph.D., is the Vice President for University Life and Dean of Students at Alvernia University and accompanied Alvernia students on a DC-based FMS service trip last spring. As a guest blogger for FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, Joe reflects on God’s intentions for us and how Jesus came to live out these intentions…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: Our Call, Our Challenge
Editor’s note: Sister Pat Klemm, OSF, a Franciscan Sister of Allegany for 54 years, has ministered in education, healthcare, parish ministry, formation ministry and leadership. As a guest blogger for FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, Sr. Pat shares her experiences serving (and being welcomed) abroad and reflects on the story of the Nativity. A number…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: Open Doors, Here and Abroad
Editor’s note: As part of FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, missioner Janice Smullen shares her experiences welcoming refugee families with open doors. When the churches in my area first met with Catholic Charities to hear specifics about the Refugee Resettlement program and to decide if we wanted to participate, Catholic Charities brought a man from…
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Faith Call Us to be Neighbors: In Thanksgiving for Community
Editor’s note: As part of FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, Programs Associate Rose Urankar reflects on the past year and how community has welcomed her during that time. “Where were you one year ago today?” As we sat around the table, bellies full from our “Friendsgiving” feast, the FMS Casa community reflected on how our…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: Welcoming Those in Need
Editor’s note: Paula J. Scraba, O.S.F., Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Physical Education Department at St. Bonaventure University and a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Washington, D.C. As a guest blogger for FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, Paula shares some of her service experiences and reflects on how much she has learned from others…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: “You Must Stay!” An Experience of Not-So-American Hospitality
Editor’s note: Fr. Brad Milunski, OFM Conv., is an FMS Board member and serves as Vicar Provincial of his Franciscan Province and Director of PostNovitiate Formation. As a guest blogger for FMS’ Advent blog series, Fr. Brad recounts a time he was generously welcomed into a friend’s home in Jordan. It was the spring of…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: A “Thank You” Letter to Bolivia
Editor’s note: As part of FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, missioner Catherine Hope Sullivan shares her gratitude to Bolivia, who has welcomed her in a variety of ways for the past two years, as she leaves the country today. Dear Bolivia, Today, I leave you and I cannot believe it. You have been everything to…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: “Welcome” Has No Language Barriers
Editor’s note: As part of FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, missioner Maggie Van Roekel describe a time when she was patiently welcomed by her students in Carmen Pampa despite the challenges of the language barrier. When I think about being welcomed, one of the biggest ideas that comes into my mind is my first few…
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Faith Call Us to be Neighbors: “Hospes,” the True Root of Hospitality
Editor’s note: Patrick McKenzie is the Director of Campus Ministry at Neumann University, a Franciscan school in Aston, PA. As a guest blogger for FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, Patrick shares a “shining moment of true hospitality” and reflects on the true meaning of the word. “Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: Hospitality, Joy, Christmas
Editor’s note: Sr. Patricia D. Reid, OSF, an Allegany Franciscan for more than 50 years, serves on the Franciscan Mission Service Board of Directors. As a guest blogger for FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, Sr. Pat shares a time when she felt welcomed into the home of a woman who didn’t own much, but “had everything.” If…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: Embracing the Culture of Encounter
Editor’s note: Fr. Kevin Mullen, OFM, serves as provincial minister of Holy Name Province. As a guest blogger for FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, Fr. Kevin describes a time when he “embrace[d] the culture of encounter” by welcoming someone in the spirit of Saint Francis. This Advent, as we think about hospitality and about awaiting the…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: Welcoming and Being Welcomed
Editor’s note: As part of FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, missioner Aubrey Kimble recounts her experiences being welcomed in Bolivia. This year’s Advent theme centers on hospitality and welcome, themes that are central to the Franciscan charism. I love that showing hospitality is part of the Franciscan charism because it is something that I believe…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: The Miracle of God’s Presence in Welcoming Others
Editor’s note: Fr. John Adams is the President of So Others Might Eat (SOME), a DC Service Corps site partner. As a guest blogger for FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, Fr. John reflects on being welcomed early on in his life, and in turn, finding a calling of welcoming others. What I have witnessed over…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: Welcoming God in My Grief
Editor’s note: As part of FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, missioner Cindy Mizes recognizes God’s welcoming presence in the midst of grief and anguish. The photo is from the top of Blue Mountain (Highest peak in Jamaica) which she climbed with others last month. I would never have imagined that I would enter into a world…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: Open Wide the Doors of Your Heart
Editor’s note: As part of FMS’ 2017 Advent blog series, missioner Erin McHugh reflects on the meaning and application of true hospitality and shares what happens as a result. It is such a beautiful God thing to me that our Advent theme for us this year is hospitality and welcoming the stranger, as I have…
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Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: Welcome to the Advent Blog Series!
Editor’s note: Associate Director Meghan Meros introduces FMS’ Advent blog series, “Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors,” with a welcome story from Egypt. Tired. Hungry. Disoriented. In need of a shower. After traveling for nearly 24 hours to Cairo, Egypt, I was so ready to sleep, so ready to eat and to stop being in…
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Full Arms, Fuller Heart
Editor’s note: Missioner Amanda Ceraldi shares her interactions with the families of the children she cares for at Valley of the Angels School in Guatemala. I could hear them from across the parking lot. A group of girls screaming my name: “Amanda, Amanda, Amanda, we have a surprise for you!” They pulled me into the…
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Welcome DC Service Corps Member Madonna
Even while she was in pursuit of a neuroscience degree in college, Madonna Enwe still engaged in service as much as possible. Participating in a DC Urban Plunge experience left a lasting impression on her and she knew she wanted to do more. Madonna met one of the FMS office associates at a pizza night…
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Welcome DC Service Corps Member Ali
When Ali stepped into St. Theresa’s room in Lisieux, France, her journey to service began. In the same place St. Theresa had an interior conversion and decided to become a missionary, Ali experienced a similar moment of hearing God’s call. Instead of St. Theresa’s characteristic roses, Ali saw that Stargazer lilies – her favorite flower…
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Welcome DC Service Corps Member Chase
Chase Medelberg is a proud Texan and was teaching the Texas Pledge of Allegiance to the curious FMS community within days of his arrival at FMS. Born and raised in the city of Krum – “home of the Fighting Bobcats” – he loves golfing, reading, snow, college football, and education. Chase’s passion for education and…
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Welcome Communications Associate Kathleen!
As 2016 graduate Kathleen Strycula walked down the steps of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception with her Catholic University of America (CUA) diploma in hand, her gaze drifted across the street to the Franciscan Mission Service (FMS) office where she would begin the next chapter in her life. While speaking…
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Welcome, Nate!
Join Franciscan Mission Service in extending a warm welcome to the newest member of our Nonprofit Leadership Program, Staff Writer Nate Marsh! Nate finds his way to Franciscan Mission Service through a desire to make an impact on the world around him. “I wanted to do something bigger than myself,” he said. “Most people go…
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Welcome, Melissa!
Join Franciscan Mission Service in extending a warm welcome to the newest member of our Nonprofit Leadership Program, Development Associate Melissa Montrowl! Melissa graduated in 2013 from Franciscan University of Steubenville (FUS), where she double majored in Theology and Catechetics. Asked how the Franciscan character of the school colored her education, she laughs and says…
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Welcome, John!
Join Franciscan Mission Service in extending a warm welcome to our new Program Associate, John Quense! A native of New Jersey, John graduated in 2011 from Rutgers University, where he double majored in Political Science and Spanish. He comes to Franciscan Mission Service with a good amount of international volunteer experience under his belt. The…
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Mission Monday: Wine and Cheese Make a Reunion
To welcome home our returning missioners we held our traditional Wine and Cheese Open House. On this Thursday evening, snow threatened the roads and dark had already fallen, but Casa San Salvador soon filled with friends, new and old, to welcome home missioners who had been away for two to three years. The missioners came…
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Mission Monday: Welcome Class XXVIII!
They came by plane. They came by car. And now they are all settled into Casa San Salvador. Joining us at Franciscan Mission Service are three generous and faith-filled people from across the country. Representing their native lands, they are: Paul Heinzen: Wisconsin Jeff Sved: Pennsylvania Annemarie Barrett: Minnesota For the next 14 weeks…
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