I’ve heard a lot of repeated phrases serving in Campus Ministry at Merrimack College, “It’s wicked cold outside!” and “Can we stop by Dunkin’ first?” On days I serve at the community resource center in Lawrence, I catch myself saying phrases over and over again, “Please listen to your tutor!” and “After you finish your...
On the night of Monday, December 4, 2017, I went out to get a coffee with my program director, Joanna, who was in Ventura for a site visit. When we arrived back to the house she noticed ash falling from the sky. I didn’t think anything of it. Joanna did some research and told my...
Service, spirituality, and community: three words that appear repeatedly upon applying to become an Augustinian Volunteer. Throughout my application process, orientation, and the months leading up to our actual departure I learned about these values and began to understand what they meant to me as a person and as a volunteer. Of these three values,...
When I first applied to the AVs, I had somewhat of an idea of how community life would be. I anticipated it was going to be similar to having roommates. Sometimes, what you think is not exactly how it turns out to be. Even with that in mind, I was still open to this “living...
Within the first couple of weeks of being in the city of Philadelphia, my community members and I stumbled across an old stripped down mural that was once displayed prominently on the side of a building. However, now it resembles something like a black blob. I pointed out the black unidentified figure, stating that it...
The City of Brotherly Love confronts negative headlines from every crevice of every neighborhood with a love fitting of its civic name. Born-and-raised Philadelphians manifest the pride they have for their city in how quickly and enthusiastically they invite newcomers into their culture: the phrase “jawn”, the Eagles Fight Song, and the mystery that is...
My faith has always played a major role in my life, but like many people I have faced challenges and triumphs. I am grateful to have had my faith planted by my parents, shaped at Reicher Catholic High School, and deepened by St. Mary’s Catholic Student Center at Texas A&M University. I have been out...
Attending Villanova University, only 3.4 miles away from home, I have always stayed close by to my family. Moving 2,689 miles away from home was the boldest and scariest thing I have ever done in my life. I was terrified the last month of summer; August was quickly approaching and I would be saying goodbye...
“People would ask why I let all these homeless people sleep in the church, not knowing if they would try to steal from me or the parish. And I would always respond: how could I turn away Jesus coming to my door and asking for a place to sleep or something to eat?” I heard...
Campus ministry work was something that, at the start of this year, I had a small degree of understanding about. I had been involved in the campus ministry department at my college throughout my junior and senior year. I had gone on a few retreats and done some alternative winter and spring breaks to various...
